-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright 2009 by nosone (as registered on Gamefaqs.com)
Please send me an email if you would like to host this FAQ on your site. This
FAQ is not to be reproduced and/or distributed for financial gain. All work
included is original except where it is cited by the author.
Fei-Long Character Guide v2.31
** Updates **
-Edited VR-Raiden's Punishment Guide (incomplete).
-Edited commentary on normals and specials.
-Reevaluated match-ups in VS Others.
-Summarization, truncated FAQ.
-Fixed errors in grammar, spelling, and character information; format editing.
-------------
Table of Contents (use CTRL+F to search):
A) Introduction.................[INTX]
B) FAQ Legend...................[LGDX]
C) Damage Chart.................[DMCX]
D) Basic moves..................[BSCX]
E) Special moves................[SPCX]
F) How to play Fei-Long.........[HTPX]
G) Combos.......................[CMBX]
H) VS Others....................[VSOX]
Fei-Long.............[FLG]
Zangief..............[ZNG]
Akuma................[AKM]
Guile................[GYL]
Cammy................[CMY]
Abel.................[ABL]
Sagat................[SGT]
Blanka...............[BLK]
E.Honda..............[HND]
Gouken...............[GKN]
M.Bison..............[BSN]
Balrog...............[BLR]
Ken..................[KEN]
Ryu..................[RYU]
Dhalsim..............[SIM]
Gen..................[GEN]
Rose.................[RSE]
Chun-Li..............[CHN]
Dan..................[DAN]
Vega.................[VEG]
Sakura...............[SKA]
El Fuerte............[ELF]
Seth.................[STH]
Rufus................[RUF]
C.Viper..............[CVP]
I) Punishment Guide.............[PSGX]
J) Special Thanks...............[SPTX]
K) Contact......................[CONX]
********************************************************************
********************************************************************
A) Introduction [INTX]
There's not much new to say in a FAQ about Fei-Long that you couldn't gather
from the game/manual or Wikipedia, so I won't delve much into his character.
Bottom line, Fei-Long is your stock Bruce Lee look-a-like for the Street
Fighter series.
Haven't we seen him somewhere before? Why, yes! Perhaps under a different name,
of course. Other video game characters that might remind you of his style
include Liu Kang from Mortal Kombat, Jacky from Virtua Fighter, Marshall and
Forrest Law from Tekken, Li Long and Maxi from Soul Blade/Calibur, and Jann
Lee from Dead or Alive.
Thing is, there's nothing really new or exciting about Fei-Long's story which
is likely why most people skip over him. Those who do, however, are missing out
on one of the best characters in SFIV. This FAQ exists to prove his greatness,
and to make you a better Fei-Long.
Pros:
+ Fast attacks/reversals
+ Ability to attack from multiple angles (tools for every occasion)
+ Superior Focus Attack range and speed
+ Excellent mind games
+ Pressure play and chip damage
+ Uncommon character; not many people know his game
Cons:
- Learning curve
- Recovery from specials can leave him wide open
- Difficult to utilize Ultra
- No projectile game
- Vulnerable in the air
- Requires strict timing for counters, reversals, and basic play
********************************************************************
********************************************************************
B) FAQ Legend [LGDX]
LP: Light Punch
LK: Light Kick
MP: Medium Punch
MK: Medium Kick
HP: Hard Punch
HK: Hard Kick
f: Forward (f+HK is a forward Hard Kick)
b: Back (b+HP is a back Hard Punch)
u: Straight jump (u+HK is a straight up jump Hard Kick)
d: Down motion, without crouch (tap down; to be followed by another direction)
ub, uf: Jump backward, jump forward
db, df: crouch block motion, crouch using the diagonal forward
c: Crouching move (c+LP is a crouching Light Punch)
j: Angled jumping move (j+HP is an angled jumping Hard Punch)
QCF: Quarter circle forward (d,df,f)
QCB: Quarter circle back (d,db,b)
HCF: Half circle forward (b,db,d,df,f)
HCB: Half circle back (f,df,d,db,b)
+: Combination of motions (j+HK means an angled jump HK)
>: Combo one move into the next (LP> Rekkaken is comboing a LP to a Rekkaken)
~: Doing one move after another; not a combo (Chicken Wing~ ShienKyaku)
EX: Use two kicks/punches when performing a special move
FADC: Focus Attack Dash Cancel (dash forward before launching a Focus Attack)
RKK: Rekkaken (QCF+P, QCF+P, QCF+P)
ShienK: Shienkyaku (b, QCB+K)
CW: Chicken Wing (HCF, uf+K)
TS: Tenshin (HCB+K)
RSK: Rekkashinken (QCF, QCF+P)
RSG: Rekkashingeki (QCF, QCF+PPP)
These are all the basic motions needed to play Fei-Long; you really don't need
to know 360s and 720s with this guy, so I won't bother.
********************************************************************
********************************************************************
C) Damage Chart [DMCX]
The chart follows this format:
"Attack".....Damage // Stun
=========================
Throws
Forward......130 // 130
Backward.....140 // 140
LP
Far..........30 // 50
Close........30 // 50
c+LP.........30 // 50
u+LP.........50 // 50
j+LP.........50 // 50
MP
Far..........80 // 100
Close........70 // 100
c+MP.........65 // 100
u+MP.........80 // 100
j+MP.........80 // 100
HP
Far..........120 // 200
Close........100 // 200
c+HP.........100 // 200
u+HP.........100 // 200
j+HP.........100 // 200
LK
Far..........40 // 50
Close........30 // 50
c+LK.........30 // 50
u+LK.........50 // 50
j+LK.........40 // 50, cross-up
MK
Far..........70 // 100
Close........75 // 100
c+MK.........80 // 100
u+MK.........80 // 100
j+MK.........70 // 100, cross-up
f+MK.........60 // 100
HK
Far..........110 // 200
Close........120 // 200
c+HK.........100 // 150
u+HK.........100 // 200, cross-up
j+HK.........100 // 200
f+HK.........90+60 // 150+50
Rekkaken (Hits can be done out of combo for Max Damage/Stun)
LP...........50+50+48 (Chip: 12+12+15) // 50+50+40
MP...........55+55+48 (Chip: 13+13+15) // 50+50+40
HP...........60+60+48 (Chip: 15+15+15) // 50+50+40
EX...........65+65+56 (Chip: 16+16+17) // 50+50+40
Shien Kyaku
LK...........120 (Chip: 30) // 200
MK...........140 (Chip: 35+22) // 200
HK...........160 (Chip: 25+15) // 100+100
EX...........200 (Chip: 25+12) // 100+50+50
Rekkakyaku (Chicken Wing)
LK...........30+30+40 (Chip: 7+7+10) // 50+50+50, cross-up
MK...........30+30+50 (Chip: 7+7+12) // 50+50+50, cross-up
HK...........40+40+60 (Chip: 10+10+15) // 50+50+50, cross-up
EX...........30+30+40 (Chip: 7+7+10) // 50+50+50, cross-up
Rekkashinken
Single.......60+60+60+60+160 (Chip: 15+15+15+15+40) // 0
Total........400 (Chip: 100) // 0
Rekkashingeki
Half.........342 (Chip: 11+11+11+11+28) // 0
Full.........495 (Chip: 15+15+15+15+41) // 0
Focus Attack
Level 1......60
Level 2......80
Level 3......140
********************************************************************
********************************************************************
D) Essential Basic moves [BSCX]
LP:
A really quick jab motion that can be combo'd about 3-4 times easily by spam.
This is used for quick damage and can also be combo'd into Rekkaken, however,
if you jab past the 1st jab, you'll be stuck in the combo until you stop
mashing LP. This can screw you up if you're going for LP> Rekkaken if you mash
jab too fast. On its own or in combos, there are no drawbacks to using this
move; throw these out for hit-confirmation purposes, or for gaining a frame
advantage.
[Uses:]
1) Jab damage
2) Hit/Block-stun frame advantage
3) Pushing
4) Combo-starter
5) Tick throws
6) Super Cancel
(Rating: 5/5)
---------------
c+LP:
This is the main jab that you'll be using to start Rekka combos as the crouch
motion begins the first QCF; c+LP> Rekkaken works wonderfully for pushing the
opponent towards the wall. Its main drawback is in its range, however, making
it easy to be countered by big moves like an SPD or SRK if you whiff with it.
[Uses:]
1) Jab damage
2) Pushing
3) Combo-starter
4) Tick throws
5) Super Cancel
(Rating: 4/5)
---------------
c+LK:
Though it doesn't combo directly into Rekkaken like the LP, it can still be
linked into c+LP> RKK or cancelled into a Super. Where this move excels is in
its speed and range for pushing, allowing you stay at a longer range than LP.
This move also hits low and must be blocked low, whereas c+LP hits mid-range
and can be blocked standing up. I prefer this move for spamming purposes,
though it is essentially on par with c+LP damage wise.
[Uses:]
1) Jab damage
2) Pushing
3) Tick throws
4) Super Cancel
(Rating: 3/5)
---------------
MP (Close):
Though the far-away version is nothing to write home about, this version of MP
rocks your opponent so hard that you're given AMPLE opportunity to combo. I've
tried this attack in training to find excellent results; this move combos
easily into ShienK, c+LP> RKK, and c+MK> RSK due to the high hit-stun and frame
advantage that you get from it. Though HP (Close) does more damage outright,
this move gives frame advantage whether it hits or is blocked, making it great
for an offensive poke. On block, consider following up with an attack or throw.
[Uses:]
1) Combo-starter
2) Hit-stun frame advantage
3) Super Cancel
(Rating: 4/5)
---------------
c+MK:
The ultimate push! This move is fast enough to beat most sweeps and can push
you/your enemy just outside of sweep range (depending on the enemy). As a
counter, this move does great damage, and it's actually more likely that you'll
be scoring counters with this than any other move (save for a jab) due to its
unique properties. The main special property of this move is that it hits LOW,
allowing you to get under many attacks, including Tatsumakis, Blanka's Electric
Attack, and Zangief's Spinning Lariat. It also will allow you to DODGE some
attacks as well, so if you're feeling lucky, throw this out and see what it
does for you.
[Uses:]
1) Counter damage
2) Pushing
3) Super cancel
4) Low attack/dodge
5) Hit-confirmation
(Rating: 4/5)
---------------
c+MP
Equally as great of a push as c+MK, this attack also seems to be more easily
chained into Fei-Long's Super. The hit-stun, speed, and recovery for this move
are much better than c+MK, making it the preferred attack for hit-confirmation.
This move's speed also allows you to spam it faster than c+MK--as a matter of
fact, you can do this move twice for a 2-hit combo worth 130 damage. This is an
important factor, especially when creating Block Strings (discussed later on).
The only real drawback to this move is that it hits mid, meaning that it can
be blocked standing up, and loses c+MK's crouching properties. If you consider
c+MK a defense/mind game poke, then c+MP is an offensive poke.
** Use this move to knock down Tatsumakis while staying safe.
[Uses:]
1) Hit-confirmation
2) Pokes
3) Hit/Block-stun frame advantage
4) Super cancel
(Rating: 5/5)
---------------
f+MK: (overhead)
This move is fast and travels a bit of distance, making it a great follow up to
c+LK spam once you've pushed yourself back far enough. Usually this will draw a
counter attack by the opponent once he realizes that crouch blocking makes him
a sitting duck. At that point, you're free to punish him.
This move counts as a jump, and can actually hop over a crouching or downed
opponent if you're close, so watch your spacing if you're just going for damage
(this will happen at throw range).
Remember that this is merely a surprise poke; the frame advantage you get on
hit is very minimal, giving you few options out of the attack. On block, there
is also a large disadvantage that your opponent can take advantage of, so don't
get trigger-happy with this. It's best to use this at max range; whether you
hit or miss, you don't want to be close enough for the opponent to follow up.
[Uses:]
1) Surprise overhead
2) Can-opener
3) Cross-up at throw range
(Rating: 3/5)
---------------
f+HK:
This is two-hits in one move and can do some decent damage if both hit (about
the same as a MK ShienK). This is a good poke move for establishing reference
and ensuring that the opponent doesn't get too close. The second kick has
longer range than the first, so use that to your advantage. DO NOT SPAM THIS
MOVE. It's pretty slow and can get you into trouble with higher priority moves
like the SRK or Tiger Uppercut, if those moves graze your feet. The two motions
are also easy to catch with a Shinku or a (*gasp*) Metsu Hadouken.
When both hits are guaranteed to make contact (hit or block), consider using
this as a push as you only have a slight disadvantage on recovery (2 frames).
This makes it difficult for most characters to counter successfully, especially
at range.
[Uses:]
1) 2-hit combo damage
2) Pushing
3) Reference
(Rating: 2/5)
---------------
c+HK:
Your only sweep so it deserves a spot on this list. This is used for setting
up cross-up traps and putting your opponent on the defensive. Not at all a
good pushing move, so don't use it thinking you'll be safe even if they block.
As a point of note, if this move connects, your opponent cannot tech the fall
to rise quickly. Consider this if you need some time to think, run, or sneeze.
This move is great against characters that lack good wakeup reversals, forcing
them into a more defensive position when they get up.
Use this sparingly, as there are better moves for putting your opponent on the
ground. The start-up for this move is also a bit slower than ShienK, which is
the preferred option out of a jump-in.
[Uses:]
1) Sweep
(Rating: 2.5/5)
---------------
HP, HP (Close):
Far away, this move can do decent damage and acts as a great push; up close, it
becomes an uppercut which can be used to cancel into ShienK, RKK, or RSK. The
added damage is nice, but if you're not comfortable with doing a HP> ShienK,
then don't try, as the HP has a lot of recovery if you DON'T cancel out of it.
If blocked, consider using RKK to push/chip the opponent after a close HP or
FADCing a ShienK to be safe.
The range on the far HP is significant enough to warrant using it for fast
damage/stun against your opponent when Rekkaken would be too risky to use. For
most people, this move may also push them just outside of their reach, allowing
you time to block incoming attacks. Abel, for instance, will be pushed out to
where only his slow and easily counterable specials can reach you, giving you
an advantage in terms of anticipating his attacks.
This move is also a great way to link CW to ShienK seamlessly, making it worth
your while to program into your mind, although it can be very difficult to do
online.
Try this move as an anti-air against those who try to do a lot of jump-ins or
cross-ups. When your opponent's body overshadows yours, press HP to watch Fei
throw out an uppercut right into their feet!
[Uses:]
1) Combo-starter/link
2) Pushing
3) Damage
4) Quick counter attack
5) Hit stun frame advantage
6) Anti-air
7) Super Cancel/Link (close)
(Rating: 4/5)
---------------
c+HP:
This is a great push which can also deal decent damage if it hits. The range on
this attack is slightly longer than c+MK, allowing you to push your opponent
even farther. This move will beat many pokes in situations where other moves
would only trade, so feel free to throw it out if you see an opportunity.
c+MK, although priceless for its speed, pushing, and damage, will fail to deter
an advancing foe at times as people see it more like a jab than a hard-hitting
move. The c+HP attack, on the otherhand, scares your opponent on top of doing
more damage, causing more stun, and having excellent range. This makes it a
worthwhile move on its own, though its uses will be for a different purpose
than c+MK. Also note that the disadvantage on block is much larger than on
c+MK, meaning that this attack is a risk against an opponent who is ready for
it.
Use this move against Zangief's Spinning Lariat after the first couple spins.
This will lose to the Lariat on start-up, but it's a safe strike after the
initial spin.
[Uses:]
1) Damage
2) Pushing
3) Mind games
4) Stun meter increase
(Rating: 3.5/5)
---------------
j+HP, j+HK:
These are your main angled jumping attacks. Use these moves to catch people
unaware and combo them with ShienK or right into your Ultra! HK has great
horizontal range since Fei sticks out his leg relatively far, while HP hits
higher up on Fei-Long's body, making it better for hitting opponents who are
already above you. At medium to high level play, you'll be using these moves
sparingly against grounded opponents to avoid anti-airs.
In air-to-air situations, retreating j+HK is great for punishing specials, such
as Vega's Wall Dive and Bison's Headstomp. Use these in order to avoid chip
damage and score free hits against these characters.
[Uses:]
1) Aerial damage
2) Can-opener
3) Ultra link
4) Super link
(Rating: 3/5)
---------------
u+HK: (cross-up)
I really love this move! This is your Anti-Zangief attack. Use it to stuff his
jump-ins as well as his Spinning Lariat and Banishing Fist. This is recommended
against 'Gief since Zangief has no air throws and can be a little slow when
airborne. This kick completely trumps an advancing Lariat and will help avoid
the fist altogether. Not to mention that it hits on both sides! You can also
combo out of this like j+HK, so take advantage of that. This move actually has
incredible range for being relatively stationary; the hitbox for the move
extends all the way to Fei's toes, and will do the same damage, no matter what
part hits the enemy!
[Uses:]
1) Fast aerial attack
2) Can-opener
3) Cross-up if the opponent moves behind you
4) Ultra link
5) Super link
(Rating: 3.5/5)
---------------
u+MK:
This move is best used as a defense against aerial attacks, such as jump-ins
and even Bison's Headstomp. If you have good timing, u+HK will do pretty much
the same thing, but since this attack begins much closer to Fei, you present
yourself as a smaller target in the air. The start-up will also allow you to
pull this out faster than u+HK, giving you more time to react to your opponent.
(Rating: 2.5/5)
---------------
j+MK: (cross-up)
This can, surprisingly, stuff a lot of attacks. Its hitbox is also pretty wide,
ranging from in front to a half-circle behind Fei-Long. Though it gives a frame
advantage on hit, it's not meant to be used in the same fashion as j+HK really.
This move was made to do cross-ups with, and it can be pretty deadly at that.
In air-to-air battles, this may give you an edge in terms of execution speed
versus a slower j+HP or j+HK; try it out in a pinch.
[Uses:]
1) Fast aerial attack
2) Can-opener
3) Cross-up
4) Combo-starter
(Rating: 4/5)
---------------
j+MP:
Basically a jump-in, but there are some advantages to using this move over your
typical j+HK or j+HP:
First, the attack launches a frame faster than j+HK or j+HP. This can mean the
difference between your opponent being able to launch a successful SRK or being
smacked in the face with Fei-Long's palm. This also helps in doing ambiguous
cross-ups as you can launch a little later in the jump than j+HK/HP for the
strike.
Second, the attack's hitbox begins so much closer to the enemy than j+HK/HP/MK.
The animation for this move has Fei sticking his arm out at a downward angle
towards the enemy. This means that you can launch sooner, rather than later in
the jump, reducing the amount of time that the opponent has to read the attack.
Third, this attack does decent damage and serves as a great substitute for
j+HK/HP for beginning combos. On its own, the attack does 80 damage, which is
10 more than your cross-up, j+MK, and only 20 less than HK/HP jump-in. That's
pretty fair considering its advantage in speed.
This attack may also be used to cross-over your opponent, although it will NOT
hit them from behind. Rather, this property allows Fei to strike in front while
his body continues to move towards the rear of his opponent. I've yet to see
someone use this reliably; keep it in mind, but don't get too aggressive with
trying to cross over. Use this move as a can-opener after pushing yourself out
of range with pokes.
[Uses:]
1) Fast jump-in
2) Can-opener
3) Combo starter
(Rating: 3.5/5)
---------------
Throws: LP+LK, f+LP+LK, b+LP+LK
These moves are absolutely essential for mind games and for punishing turtles.
Standing and forward throw are the same move; they both push the opponent
towards the wall that you are currently facing. I tend to use this throw the
most to keep people in corners, although it does a bit less damage than back
throw.
The back throw is a throw which tosses the opponent directly behind you. This
throw is meant to be used to switch places with the enemy and for overall
damage output. The difference between this throw's damage and the forward
version is not that significant, rather, the main differences stem from the
placement of the enemy in relation to the stage and Fei-Long. Back throw keeps
the enemy close and moves Fei-Long out of corner traps, while Forward throw
is more of an aggressive move as it pushes the opponent where you want him.
[Uses:]
1) Placement
2) Throw damage
3) Escaping corner traps
4) Mind games
(Rating: 5/5)
---------------
Focus Attack: MP+MK (cancel with dash)
Fei-Long's focus attack has excellent range and should be used from the
farthest possible distance to reduce the likelihood of being jabbed out of it.
Though you can play without Focus Attacks, the option of using them increases
the depth of the game. Focus lv2 is also very easy to charge to, so try it out!
You can always dash cancel if your prospects of hitting don't look so great.
Proper use of the Focus Attack is for punishing jump-ins and for mind-games.
Learning FADC is also very helpful against Shotos that like to run and throw
fireballs. Although other characters can easily FADC combos into Supers/Ultras,
Fei's FADC combos aren't too impressive and usually aren't worth the meter.
You can still use FADC for its armor and for canceling ShienK's, however. The
latter option makes for a safe wake-up reversal by allowing you to dash away or
toward your opponent during his block stun.
Focus Attacks can, and should, be used to chain into Super and Ultra combos if
you have meter available. If not, make sure to dash in after the attack anyway,
as being in your opponent's face when he is crumpling opens up many more
opportunities for combos. Dashing in is also the only way to ensure a 3-hit
Rekkaken, as the 1st Rekkaken will just knock the opponent down if you don't.
For free damage, try using a lv1 Focus Attack and dashing backwards. After the
hit, most people will try to follow-up with a counter, however, the back dash
should place you out of harm's way. I often use this to finish off an opponent
who is being very dodgy, or to test out an opponent's reactions early in the
round. 60 damage is actually very nice, and the option to back dash can make it
better than committing to a slow special for the chip kill. Do note that there
is no frame advantage on block, even if you dash afterwards. Against some
characters, you may need to be more careful with a lv1 Focus--try a lv2 Focus
instead, and forward dash to gain a nice frame advantage.
[Uses:]
1) Punishing jump-ins
2) FADC past fireball traps
3) Crumple into Ultra/Super
4) Crumple into manual combo
5) Hyper Armor
6) FADC combos
7) Mind games
8) Quick damage
(Rating: 5/5)
---------------
Dash: f> f, or b> b
It's perfectly fine to never dash in your entire SFIV career, but learning its
uses (outside of FADC) can really help your play as well. Though back dash
isn't anything special, here are some of the options you have out of forward
dash:
1) dash> RKK
Bait your opponent to attack you during the dash animation so that you can
hit them unsuspectingly with a RKK. This also effectively extends your RKK by a
sizable distance; total start-up time for a dash> LP RKK is 24 frames, which is
less time than you spend in the air jumping forward/backward (34 frames). With
that in mind, consider using dash> RKK to catch an opponent who jumps back a
lot or to catch Blanka's rebound. RKK can also knock the opponent out of the
air, giving you time to walk right up to them.
2) dash> u+HK
u+HK will catch anything advancing into you, be it by sudden forward jump,
Banishing Fist, Tatsumaki, or other. Combo afterwards.
3) dash> block> counter
A basic bait strategy. Here, ShienK works wonders to counter an aggressive
opponent.
4) dash> Super/Ultra
Catch that falling opponent with something HARD. Like the dash> RKK, this
comes out faster than a full jump (total: 27 frames). Time it right and you'll
avoid any oncoming attacks and do great damage/chip damage when they land.
[Uses:]
1) Baiting attacks
2) Extending attack range
3) Movement, essential for in-and-out style
4) Dodging cross-up traps
5) Invincible start-up on back dash and airborne frames help to dodge some
attacks
(Rating: 5/5)
---------------
********************************************************************
********************************************************************
E) Special Moves (SPCX)
Rekkaken or RKK (QCF+P, QCF+P, QCF+P):
This is a move that is usually either underused or overused by Fei-Longs. Its
correct application is for pushing, chipping, countering, and ranged reversals.
It's a long list, but they call them Special Moves for a reason, right?
Rekkaken is often best used to catch a falling or advancing opponent in their
movement animation. This move often comes at a surprise since it launches with
relatively little wind-up and can be used to travel halfway across the screen
by using the HP or EX version. At max range, the bounce from block stun should
also keep you out of range of most attacks, however, do watch out for reversals
though, as they can be easy to pull off against the HP/EX versions. Here's a
reference list for the number of RKK's (1st hit) it takes to reach across the
screen:
LP: 4x (roughly 1/4 screen)
MP: 4x (roughly 1/3 screen)
HP: 3x (roughly 1/2 screen)
EX: 3x (roughly 1/2 screen), LP start-up speed, HP wind-down
You need to consider the differences for each Rekkaken. LP travels the shortest
distance, but has the least windup and recovery. LP is the version that you'll
be using most for pressure, followed by MP. HP should be used at Max range, to
catch a falling opponent, or whenever the opponent is unable to defend as it
does the most damage out of the three. Remember that the distance traveled is
not instant and that the move has some windup to it as well. This means you'll
need to launch early if you hope to catch an opponent off-guard.
Don't rush to finish all three hits; that's key to protecting yourself. Rather,
confirm that the first one goes through first, and then begin the motions for
the next two. The first two hits of LP RKK are your best push moves as they
keep you at max range (when used at max range), have little recovery time, and
they do decent chip damage. Also remember that you can use different punches
for each attack. For instance, you can start the attack with LP, then use MP
and/or HP to finish the combo. Note that only the 1st and 2nd hit will change
in damage output dependending on the strength used.
LP/EX Rekkaken is fast enough to act as a reversal against Ken's Hadouken,
Shoto sweep, or other moves that have significant recovery time. You need to be
mindful of the range, however, and choose the apropriate version of RKK.
** EX Rekka can cancel out fireballs at the tip of the punch, however, this
property is difficult to utilize in a match and isn't really meant to be
counted on.
[Uses:]
1) Close-mid range reversal against most slow attacks
2) Catching a jumping opponent from a fall
3) Hitting an opponent who dashes into you or moves forward
4) Pushing an opponent into a wall
5) Chip damage, or chip-kills (esp. when EX'd)
6) Combo damage
(Rating: 5/5)
---------------
Shien Kyaku or ShienK (b, QCB+K):
This is your Ace-in-the-hole! ShienK is the fastest move you have in your
arsenal. It does a bit less than an SRK, but it's still excellent for catching
your opponent in between attacks. The best part about this move is that it is
SO easy to do this out of a block since the first motion is to move backward.
The MK and stronger versions can also tear right through Focus Attacks as the
animation lasts long enough to eat up the Super Armor, and then hit immediately
after (though this depends on how close you are to the FA to begin with).
Use this move as an Anti-air or to finish your combos. HK version does about
the same damage as a HP RKK if both hit. MK is your best bet for Anti-Air,
however, as it does more damage in one hit than the HK version (HK will need
both hits to surpass MK). EX'ing this move is a great idea if you know you can
hit with it. Only EX when the opponent is open as EX reduces chip damage (since
the EX version uses 3 hits, it spreads damage more evenly). All versions of
this move execute at the same speed, however, EX ShienK seems to improve the
speed at which its hits connect.
This move is extremely easy to combo into with j+HK/HP, so when you see an
opportunity, take it! Your opponent will be frustrated by your constant use of
the move, so it'll be easy to confuse them by switching it up mid-battle FTW.
Try to avoid falling into a pattern with this move, however, as it is easy to
punish on wind-down. To avoid this, consider using FADC to cancel the ShienK
after the first hit. If the attack is blocked, you're safe by dashing; if it's
a confirmed hit, you get an opportunity to launch an Ultra or CW follow-up.
[Uses:]
1) Close-range reversal
2) Anti-air
3) Combo damage
4) Chip damage (MK or HK version for the kill)
5) Armor Break
6) FADC mind games/combos
7) Ultra link from FADC
(Rating 5/5)
---------------
Rekkakyaku or Chicken Wing or CW (HCF, uf+K)
Absolutely essential for forward movement. Use this to catch people who like to
run away. This move has Armor Break, but be cautious, as it's only for the
first hit. This move allows Fei-Long to dodge most fireballs, barring Sagat's
High Tiger Shot which you can just duck under. Dodging requires good timing and
spacing, however, as you can be left open for a counter attack if the move does
not make contact with the enemy. The EX version of this attack flies through
fireballs entirely--this includes Super AND Ultra projectiles.
[As of the Championship update package, HK CW has been slowed down to eliminate
the infinite CW> HP> CW combo on Seth/Abel. To compensate, this move has been
given additional frames of invulnerability, which can be used to more easily
escape cross-up traps and projectiles during the start of the move.]
MK CW is excellent for up-close spamming since the disadvantage on block is too
small for most normals and some specials as well. Since this attack puts you in
the air on the first frame that you launch it, you're also completely safe from
ground throws--Abel's Tornado Throw is a great example of this, though you can
also dodge regular throws (i.e. Gouken's deadly back throw).
The HK/EX versions of this move put you on even ground with the opponent on
block, while offering combo opportunities on hit. An easy combo out of this is
HK/EX CW> c+LP> RKK. Hit-confirm at least 2 CW hits for this to be guaranteed;
if you only graze with the last hit you may be out of range for the c+LP. With
practice and good timing, this can also be combo'd directly into LP/HP> ShienK
which makes for an equally deadly combination.
This move works best as a mind game tool, however, as you keep your opponent
guessing what will come after it. Will he ShienK me again? Will he throw? Will
he jab? No one really knows until it's too late. Because of your options at the
end of the attack, this move acts much like Cammy's Hooligan Combo. Since the
jumping motion is an attack in itself, however, it's actually a bit better due
to its speed and anti-air properties.
With proper spacing, this move can also cross-up opponents who are crouching.
At throw range, use LK; at close range, use MK; at close-medium range, use HK
or the EX version. I like to take advantage of this during block string stale-
mates, when both you and your opponent crouch just out of throw range, using
pokes only. This will usually catch your opponent off-guard and make him uneasy
about sitting next to you. If you're lucky, you may even hit-confirm 2 CW hits
and be able to combo as soon as you land!
[Uses:]
1) Forward movement
2) Dodging fireballs (HK/EX version passes through)
3) Anti-air
4) Combo HK/EX version into c+LP> RKK, or HP>ShienK
5) Chip damage (three hits)
6) Armor Break
7) Cross-up against crouching opponents
8) Cross-up escape (HK CW, esp.)
9) Throw escape
10) Dodging attacks up close
11) Mind games/Mix-ups on block or hit.
Rating (5/5)
---------------
Tenshin or TS (HCB+K)
This move isn't really essential to Fei-Long's play, although it's a welcome
addition. This is effectively a command throw, however, it does no damage to
the opponent. Rather, it places Fei-Long on the other side of the opponent,
opening up possibilities for combos and mind games.
The timing for the application of this move is actually quite strict. Once Fei
flips over, you need to quickly input the commands for your move(s), or the
opponent will be given a chance to block. This move will not allow enough time
to execute an Ultra or a Super outright. Though you can combo into these
moves, if you execute them immediately after the TS, your opponent will still
be able to block/dodge.
Some opportunities to land this move:
1) LP~ EX TS
2) MP/HP RKKx2~ EX TS
3) j+MK~ TS
4) Punishing a whiffed special
Aside from punishing whiffed specials, Supers, and Ultras, there are very few
guaranteed situations for landing this throw. Because of this, it is necessary
to set up your opponent with mind games rather than recklessly trying to get
a Tenshin in.
[Uses:]
1) Mind games/Mix-ups
2) Can-opener
3) Swapping positions
4) Combo-starter (punishing whiffed specials)
5) Building meter off a Focus crumple
(Rating: 2/5)
---------------
Rekkashinken or RSK (QCF, QCF+P)
RSK is relatively easy to combo into and is faster to strike than Fei-Long's
Ultra. Using a j+HK/HP or c+MK/MP will allow you to combo into this 400+
damage attack on hit which makes it really deadly and very much worth saving
for. Since Fei-Long's moves are all so fast and so damaging, I prefer saving
meter for this move rather than EX's to turn the tide of battle.
This move often times surpasses the Ultra in terms of total combo damage as
well. This is due to the damage scaler that is built in-game which reduces the
amount of damage dealt in combos depending on the number of hits that have
connected. Since the Ultra is a 12/13 hit combo, its damage is severely reduced
when using it after a can-opener. The RSK, however, is only 5 hits so a simple
6-7 hit combo will still maintain much of the move's force.
* Learn to dash forward OR backward after crumpling an opponent with a Focus
Attack as that allows you to hit with all 5 hits.
* There is a small window in which other characters can attack you in between
the 4th and 5th hit, although if you miss (or if the move is blocked) you're
screwed anyway. Cross your fingers if you're blocked as some people try to
gamble an attack between hits 4 and 5; more often than not, they lose.
* Chip-kills! Need I say more?
[Uses:]
1) Super Damage
2) Combo Damage
3) Chip kills
4) Juggling
5) Invincibility on start-up
(Rating: 5/5)
---------------
Rekkashingeki or RSG (QCF, QCF+PPP)
Fei-Long's ultra move is pretty bad as far as Ultra's go. Since Ultra's cannot
be directly cancelled into like Supers, this move can be tough to hit with
unless your opponent makes a mistake. Even then, Fei-Long's Ultra has certain
properties that will make it difficult to trigger the cinematic properly even
if you do hit (see below).
Obviously, the best way to score an Ultra is to dash in after a Focus Attack.
Outside of Focus Attacks, however, this move is best used to hit a falling
opponent or an opponent who is in striking animation. The invincibility frames
at the start of the move can help avoid most attacks. Do note, however, that
there is a bit of wind-up to the 1st hit, meaning that this attack can be
dodged from a neutral position, no matter how close the opponent is to Fei.
Watch your distance when launching this attack. If you launch this attack at
maximum range, the 1st RSG will actually push the enemy AWAY from you, allowing
him the time and space to block the subsequent hits. When starting this attack,
try to be as close as possible; use your far LP range as a reference. On the
flip side of watching range, also remember that this attack will continue to
move Fei-Long forward and that the 2nd and 4th hits will trigger the full Ultra
to be unleashed. Use this notion to catch opponents who jump away from you.
Depressingly, the first hit of this move can also be absorbed by Hyper Armor
and the entire Ultra can be interrupted with the correct timing. Notably, Gen's
Focus Attack is fast enough to snuff this Ultra entirely. Still, however, this
attack has plenty of opportunites to be launched safely and successfully.
This move can be combo'd from a simple j+HK or j+HP, however, do note that the
damage when using this move in a combo is actually LESS than using it alone
(total combo damage is 496). This is due to the damage scaler as mentioned in
the RSK section. For this reason, the Ultra works best as a counter rather than
a combo move. Still, however, j+HK or j+HP into an Ultra will still provide
excellent results.
DO NOT THROW THIS MOVE OUT WITHOUT CAUSE! You need to think about how you want
to use this attack, whether it is for chip damage, pushing, countering, or
following up a Focus Attack. Throwing it out there just begs for an Ultra in
the face. This move is easy to dodge at any range, so use it wisely.
[Uses:]
1) Ultra Damage
2) Combo Damage
3) Chip kills
4) Juggling
5) Invincibility on start-up
(Rating: 4/5)
---------------
*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************
F) How to play Fei-long [HTPX]
There are several concepts and play styles that help make for effective
Fei-Long players. Below are concepts/moves to keep in mind when using him:
Reversals:
Fei-Long's special moves can all be used as effective reversals against any
opponent. Rekkaken can be used to reverse Hadoukens upon block stun, Chicken
Wings can be used as reversals to escape cross-up traps, and the ShienKyaku
pretty much tears through any attack you can think of. Perform the motion for
the attack during your block stun or wake-up, and launch when your opponent
leaves a gap in his attack.
Counter Hits:
Counter hits do more damage than normal moves, and for obvious reasons they
can't be blocked. Fei-Long's style of play adheres very much to counter hitting
and responding to whiffed moves quickly/effectively. This frightens your
opponent and causes them to turtle--exactly where you want them!
Spacing:
In order to counter effectively, you need to space correctly. This means
staying out of range of attack and within range of counterattack. For this it
is not neccessary, but useful, to learn proper distancing for dash as well as
backdash. In many fights, spacing is your best defense.
Pushing:
All moves, normal and special, can push either you or your opponent backwards
upon contact. This happens whether the attack is blocked or not. For Fei-Long,
understanding this property is essential as Fei-long operates best when his
opponents are trapped in the corner. His best pushing attack is the first hit
of the LP RKK as it causes chip damage and has little recovery if blocked. Also
consider his c+MK/MP/HP move for pushing yourself out of sweep range.
Chip Damage:
An essential part of the game, chip forces people to attack/counterattack
rather than block all day. Chip damage occurs when you hit a blocking opponent
with a special move. Fei's best chip moves are the Chicken Wing (3 hits) and
the Rekkaken. His Super and Ultra are also great for killing off opponents on
their last bit of life.
Can-Openers:
A personal term of mine. Can-openers are moves that are meant to hit opponents
when they are attempting to turtle your attacks (blocking low). Typically
blocking low will defeat most standing attacks and any of Fei's specials,
Super, or Ultra. A can-opener is meant as a spontaneous attack to catch the
opponent off-guard by means of an overhead, cross-up, or throw (Tenshin),
opening the opponent up to combos and other possibilities. Usually, a can-
opener just makes the opponent stop blocking for fear that you may launch
another can-opener.
Hit-Confirmation:
Moves such as Rekkaken can leave you wide open if you follow through when the
opponent blocks the first hit. For this reason, it is important to watch and
see if the first hit connects successfully before completing the motions for
the next two hits. This idea is called Hit-Confirmation, and is used to chain
single hits into damaging combos. By waiting to complete the motions, you
avoid performing big moves that would place you in a bad position for counter-
attacks.
FADC:
Focus Attack Dash Cancel. Use this to move past fireball traps and into range
for countering. This is absolutely essential for facing Shoto users. After
jumping over a few fireballs, your opponent will likely try to catch you during
your next jump; use FADC to throw your opponent's rhythm off and stay on guard.
FADCing will also allow you to build your Ultra meter without the hassle of
losing health.
Block Strings:
As a up-close fighter, Fei often must watch for counters and reversals from his
opponents following a blocked attack. Block strings are combinations that can
be linked together in such a fashion that Fei will be pushed to a safe range
even if the opponent blocks. "Safe" means that Fei will be in no immediate
threat of being thrown or hit by a reversal after the last hit. c+LKx4 for
instance, will push Fei out of normal throw range and is quick enough on its
recovery to help Fei avoid any oncoming reversals. Different block strings will
push Fei/his opponent out varying distances, so find the block string that
works best for you.
Damage Scaling:
A built-in feature of the game, this isn't really something you can control,
but it's definitely something you need to watch for. Scaling occurs for several
reasons, but the one that you need to concern yourself with is the number of
hits in your combo. Simply, the longer the string, the weaker individual hits
in the string get (scaled down, the longer it goes). When doing combos, it's
in the best interest to refrain from being too fanciful with Fei, as it's
usually not worth the meter/time/effort. Although HP RKK is stronger than
HK ShienK, HP> HP RKK will do less damage than HP> HK ShienK, as RKK adds 1
extra hit.
---------------
Once you've got those concepts down-pat, Fei-Long becomes much easier to play
and to understand.
Typically, there are a few different types of Fei-Long players out there, but
the best of the bunch can play all styles:
a) Turtler: This Fei relies on ShienK the most in order to deal counter
damage in response to an aggressive opponent. Rekkaken will only be used when
the openings are available, and Supers/Ultras will only be thrown defensively.
CW's are likely to never be used since they move Fei closer rather than farther
away. The turtler lasts the longest during the battle and can sometimes get
through an entire match without getting hit cleanly by the opponent.
b) Counter-puncher: This Fei uses fast reactions to counter attacks BEFORE
they hit, making him somewhat passive-aggressive. Rekkaken is more common here
in order to catch opponents off guard, but Pushing and chipping are not a part
of play. ShienK again is the major trump card. CW is situational rather than
habitual in terms of use. Counter-punchers understand spacing and priority very
well, making them dangerous in battle. They do, however, take a large risk by
trying to intercept attacks rather than being aggressive or defensive.
c) Pressure player: Pokes, jabs, and specials are all meant to keep the
opponent in the corner. This player uses Fei's speed in attack to his advantage
and continually chips away at the enemy's health with specials. Throws are
sometimes mixed in for good measure, and can-openers are heavily relied upon.
Block strings are used to both chip and keep Fei at a safe distance if moves do
not connect. This is the most aggressive type and is actually the type that
will lose to a 'Gief most often. Pressure play, when done correctly, however,
can confuse most other players and can completely trap characters that do not
have effective wakeups.
Again, these categories of play do not suggest that you need to pick a style,
rather, you should use them to analyze your own play style and see where your
strengths/weaknesses are. Your focus as a Fei-Long player should be to
incorporate all three styles together in order to confuse your opponent and
take the match.
[As a note, I don't profess to be the best Fei-Long player around, but I've
played as him long enough to know all of his tricks. At my current skill,
advancement with Fei-Long is more a matter of playing effective mind games than
learning more techniques. This means incorporating all three styles into my
play, and learning more about my opponents (human and in-game) and their
tendencies. -- nosone]
*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************
G) Combos [CMBX]
Fei-Long excels at short combos as his specials are all very damaging. Damage
scaling makes it highly inefficient for Fei-Long to try fancy combinations, as
his attack strength using one block, or no meter at all can do more damage in
many instances. Below are some combos that are fairly easy and very effective.
I've also included some strings that aren't necessarily combos, but can be used
for mind games:
-----------
Normals:
LPx4
c+LKx4
j+MK/MP/HK/HP> LPx4
j+MK/MP/HK/HP> MK/MP/HK/HP (MK/MP/HP can combo further when close)
Rekkaken:
LP> RKK
c+LP> RKK
c+LPx3> RKK
HP> RKK
c+LKx2> LP> c+LP> RKK
Shien Kyaku:
j+MK> ShienK
j+MK> HP> ShienK
j+HK/HP> ShienK
j+HK/HP> HP> ShienK
Rekkakyaku/Chicken Wing:
CW> HP> ShienK
CW> HP> RKK
CW> c+LP> RKK
CW> LP> ShienK
CW~ ShienK
CW~ c+LKx4
CW~ Throw
CW~ TS
Tenshin:
TS> HP> ShienK
TS> c+MP> ShienK
TS> c+MK/MP> RSK
Rekkashinken:
c+LP/MP/MK> RSK
j+MK/MP/HK/HP> RSK
Focus Attack> RSK
Rekkashingeki:
j+HK/HP> RSG
Focus Attack> RSG
HP> MK ShienK> FADC> RSG
MK ShienK> FADC> CW> RSG
-----------
Again, these are all very basic combos designed to hit hard and then back off.
Not that it's a bad thing to try combos, but long chains don't really suit Fei-
Long's style considering he already hits hard without them. However, if you can
pull off long strings, more power to you.
*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************
H) VS Others [VSOX]
[Note:]
This is not a list of tournament tiers, rather, it is an analysis of effective
play against other characters, assuming decent reflexes and consistency in the
execution of techniques by the player controlling Fei-Long. The tactics of high
level players are determined through trial and error efforts. Effectively, that
means that this section MUST and WILL be updated regularly in order to keep up
with the Joneses. Reader input is also highly desired.
VS Fei-Long (50-50) [FLG]
--------------------
Let's begin this section with a mirror match! Fei-Long VS Fei-Long is very
tricky as a good Fei-Long player will know all of your moves. Your game against
another Fei-Long player should focus on effective mind games.
Pressure play works well against Fei-Long, but be wary of his counters. Work to
pin Fei-Long against the wall, but stay out of reach of his ShienK and mind CW
cross-ups. Once you have him at the wall, use fast pokes and throws to keep him
from launching any special attacks. If he jumps or CW's, use ShienK to keep him
at bay. Counter his RKK with your own RKK if he misses or if you block the
attack.
Staying at long-range may be a good idea as Fei-Long's strengths are when he is
in your face. Punish long-range CW's with RKK if he falls short, or use ShienK
as mentioned above if he manages to get close enough. Stay on your feet, as
that will allow you to block or counter moves that come your way.
If you happen to predict a CW from long-range, you should also consider using a
Focus Attack, as you'll be able to absorb the last hit and strike the enemy Fei
for a crumple. This is almost guaranteed, as the wind-up for the CW will give
you enough time to charge to lv2 and strike him the frame that he falls down.
Remember not to try this at close range as Fei-Long can get in 2-3 hits to
destroy your Hyper Armor.
Again, a good Fei-Long player will be aiming for the same goal against you so
don't get too caught up in being aggressive or you'll be eating counters for
breakfast. Stay fast and avoid using big moves if you can.
=================================
VS Zangief (30-70) [ZNG]
--------------------
Ah, my favorite matchup (hah)! Most scrub Zangiefs think they can just out
prioritize or SPD you to death since Fei doesn't have any projectiles. Fei,
however, can deal a bunch of damage to Zangief in a relatively short amount of
time, and is nimble enough to avoid most of Zangief's attacks. There are
separate strategies for beating each of Zangief's moves:
1) SPD/Suplex:
Quite simply, if you stay out of sweep range, you'll be out of SPD range.
This idea is complicated when you factor in the movement range from
Banishing Fist and whiffed HKs, but if you keep to the air, you'll be able
to avoid either attack. Just keep jumping up/away from this one.
2) Spinning Lariat:
Scrubs spam this one a lot because of its high priority. There are two
versions to watch out for; make sure you can distinguish the sounds that
Zangief makes as one spins shorter than the other. This attack is easily
avoided or even defeated by a number of Fei's moves:
[a] c+MK will keep you low enough to avoid the move and has the range to keep
you away from SPD following the attack if used at MAX range. This can be
grabbed if you hit 'Gief somewhat deep.
[b] CW about 1 second after the startup of the Lariat; at this point CW will
beat out the Lariat and you'll get free shots on Zangief--just remember to
follow up with a ShienK or jump away to avoid SPD. Use MK/HK/EX CW for a
frame advantage.
[c] Against the longer Lariat, RKK after the 3rd spin (when he stops yelling).
[d] If 'Gief does this over you when you fall, you can block low or use MK
ShienK to trade hits (you'll do less than he will though).
[e] If 'Gief advances with this move, do u+HK to avoid the startup and to hit
him the second after. Follow up with EX ShienK for big damage.
[f] If 'Gief is doing this at distance, advance slowly. Chances are he's just
building meter for Supers/EXs. If you must, let him be, as his Super and EX
moves can be avoided with the strategies below.
3) Power Bomb or EX Power Bomb:
This can be scary at first, but once you practice against it a bit, you'll
see this as an opportunity to strike rather than run. Bombs have the same
grab range as SPD, but cover some ground as well. The trick is to get
Zangief while he's running (obviously). Use j+HK against the normal version
and combo from there. For the EX version, you should consider using u+HK
instead as it allows you to time the attack easier; make sure to follow up
with HP> EX ShienK to avoid being grabbed. CW or j+MK cross-up is also
perfect to counter this.
4) Banishing Fist:
'Gief uses this to advance mainly; damage is a secondary consideration. To
avoid this move, just keep jumping and using backdash to screw with your
opponent's spacing. If you get hit with it in the air you'll be knocked
down, so at least you won't have to worry about SPDs. u+HK is great for
taking advantage of an advancing 'Gief. Always mind spacing as the EX
version can take a mean bite out of your health. Conversely, if he comes
short, you can punish Zangief REAL hard. If Zangief doesn't have meter, you
can gamble a Focus Attack around mid-range; the regular Banishing Fist will
be absorbed and you'll get a free chance to throw out a Super/Ultra. On
block, HP> ShienK.
5) Jumping attacks/cross-ups:
'Gief's jumping attacks can do quite a bit of damage, but his air game
isn't as frightening as his ground game. You can usually tell when 'Gief is
about to jump as it takes a while from start to finish. Usually, you can
beat out his jumping attacks with u+HK or at least trade in the air.
Against cross-ups, use CW as a reversal to run away from your wake-up spot,
or learn to block in the right direction as cross-up traps can be very
annoying. Again, MK ShienK will trade hits, and you may end up on the
losing end. Use it with discretion. Use Focus Attacks sparingly, as Zangief
can switch up to a throw if he sees that you've absorbed his jump-in.
6) Jabs:
If he gets one in, he'll get more. If you get caught in these jabs, you're
going to take damage. Don't get into a jab war with 'Gief as he can switch
up to a Banishing Fist and SPD you. If you're lucky, you might be able to
catch a MK ShienK on one of his whiffed jabs, although the timing is
somewhat strict. Don't stick around to get thrown after this.
Make sure you take to the air when facing Zangief, and always watch spacing.
If you can get the First Attack, just back off and make him come to you. Use
proper timing to stuff his jump-ins as those provide him opportunity to get
close. Switch to offense at irregular intervals for free hits, as the 'Gief
user will likely try to muscle his way through the entire match. Jump-ins are
not recommended as the Spinning Lariat has enormous priority over most attacks
and will put you in a position for cross-up traps. Rules are meant to be bent,
however, so if you DO see an opportunity for a jump-in, take it and combo to
avoid being grabbed.
A useful tool for scaring off an advancing 'Gief is RKK. Use this not only for
chip damage, but to force Zangief to approach cautiously (and likely much more
slowly). By throwing out one of these, you give yourself a chance to do free
damage and push Zangief back to the other wall. After this first experience
with the RKK, Zangief will likely switch up his methods of advancing to using
specials or jump-ins, which you can thwart with good spacing and well timed
attacks. From here, you can either continue to counter Zangief, or take
advantage of his cautious movement to wait out the timer for the round.
If Zangief starts to become aggressive with jump-ins, start using HK/CW/ShienK
to catch him in the air, or begin backdashing. By backdashing, you'll at least
be out of his throw range when he lands; if he tries to do an SPD, you can
follow up with RKK at this range.
Overall, you need to be extra careful in this match, as Zangief can punish you
pretty badly with only a few hits. If Zangief whiffs a Banishing fist in front
of you when he has a full meter, you can consider most of your health gone. Be
more patient in this fight than usual, as haste will likely cost you the match.
You may wish to consider just waiting out the match rather than finishing him
off, as poking him too much will allow him to charge up his Ultra; this will
usually turn the match in his favor if you screw up even once.
Advantage to Gief:
1) Jump-ins will lead to SPD when blocked.
2) Well-timed Spinning Lariats can knock you out of anything.
3) HUGE grab range; this makes spacing difficult.
4) EX Banishing Fist comes out fast and hits for BIG damage.
5) Gief can turtle/counter-punch, reducing Fei's offensive options.
6) Fei must play much more defensively, or suffer from an SPD to the face.
7) Gief's Super/Ultra does enormous damage, and is easy to land if he blocks a
special
=================================
VS Akuma (55-45) [AKM]
--------------------
Watch for Akuma's air fireballs as those are typically used as combo-starters,
whereas horizontal ones are just for damage output. Stay mid to close range
with Akuma, and watch for low attacks as he can chain those into LK Tatsumakis,
SRKs, and Hadoukens quite easily.
Akuma's main pressure tool is his standing HK which is a relatively safe,
highly comboable attack. If you're hit by this expect the following BnB combo:
HK> c+LK> LK TSK> HP SRK. This does a LOT of damage, so you need to constantly
watch your spacing and be on the look out for the HK. Focus is difficult to
pull off in between the two hits, though you may be able to catch the last kick
with it. Block it to be sure, and then work to move out of Akuma's combo range.
Although you won't see scrubs use it, try to familiarize yourself with the
Demon Flip and its trajectory. This is a move that you can easily counter with
ShienK, CW, or a jump kick, but if you miss, you open yourself up for one of
Akuma's million-hit attacks.
A strong basic strategy against Akuma players is to close in with CW spam with
care in dodging air/regular Hadoukens. Once you've cornered him, stay about
mid-range to bait another Hadouken (which you can CW past), Tatsumaki, Demon
Flip, or Teleport. These are largely non-threatening moves which you can easily
deal with or counter. This is also the prime range for throwing out a CW to
begin pressure play and mind games. Here, you can take shots at Akuma while he
searches for options out of the corner. Keep as many of your options open as
possible in order to keep Akuma in check; this means keeping an eye out for any
moves that he tries, and to use attacks with low recovery to keep Akuma
guessing.
When Akuma has full meter, watch for his Raging Demon as you come down from a
fall. There is enough recovery at the end of CW or a jump-in for you to be
caught by this move, so move fast. If used out of the blue, you can jump over
this move or counter with CW or ShienK. Jump backwards or straight up to
gain the advantage; a forward jump will not allow you to punish the attack.
Thanks to Akuma's short health bar, this match can end relatively quickly as
your opponent is not given ample opportunity to learn your game, habits, and
patterns. Take advantage of your superior mix-up game; combine throws with
pokes and ShienK counters to keep Akuma guessing. Even c+LK spam will do decent
damage to Akuma, so no technique is really off limits here.
This battle requires a good combination of the 3 Fei-Long styles mentioned
above.
Advantage to Fei:
1) (EX)CW to dodge Hadouken spam.
2) Fei's counter-puncher style and large single-hit damage will make Akuma
reluctant to close in.
3) Battle ends quickly, Fei's mind games and your patterns can be safeguarded
from watchful players.
4) Akuma can run, but Fei can Chicken Wing!
5) Akuma's reliance on combos will make it difficult to score large damage on a
nimble, in-and-out Fei (must work for his meal).
6) Akuma cannot actually combo into his Super/Ultra.
=================================
VS Guile (60-40) [GYL]
--------------------
I really used to hate this match, and against good turtle Guiles I still kinda
do. This is the first charge character on the list, so let me drop a few tips
to start:
1) When a charge character is walking forward, he's not charging anything. If
he does a stutter step forward, he's just dropped his charge and won't be
able to do a special. Use this knowledge to advance safely as Guile will
need to walk or jump in order to put any kind of real pressure on you.
2) When a charge character is standing, he's not preparing a downward charge.
This means that if Guile is just walking backwards, the only special that he
can do is a Sonic Boom, which has a predictable trajectory and is not meant
as a counter-attack.
3) After a charge attack as been launched, you have a little less than two
seconds before the charge character is able to launch another. That means
you won't see Sonic Boom> Flash Kick, although specials CAN be canceled into
a Super, so be mindful of the meter.
4) Charging can be done in the air, after being knocked down, between attacks,
and in a block. If you see a jumping guile, do not assume that he won't have
anything charged up when he lands. Instead, attack him in the air, as that's
when he can't use specials.
Now let's look at Guile:
Scrubby Guiles will use his Sonic Boom, low sweeps, and Flash Kick to maintain
a turtling defense. To beat these Guiles, you'll need to turtle to bait their
attack. This lures the scrubs towards you, allowing you to step INSIDE his
Flash Kick range. Once inside, effective pressure play and cross-ups will keep
a Guile pinned down. Watch out for Flash Kick reversals as they're pretty fast
to execute. Power wise, they're not much better than SRKs, but you just don't
want to be pushed away from Guile if you can avoid it.
Avoid jumping in if Guile is just crouching, as that will usually lead to a FK.
Instead, walk in an irregular pattern: 2 steps forward, 1 step back; 3 forward,
4 back; etc. This will throw Guile off and prepare you to block an oncoming FK
or Sonic Boom. (EX)CW will also catch a Guile in between Sonic Boom animations
so use it when you can.
Pro Guiles are much more offensive in nature and will not require luring. These
Guiles use pressure play to keep you in the corner where they can throw you, FK
you, and spam Guile's normal moves (which are really good BTW). A basic opener
for these Guiles is to throw a slow-moving Sonic boom and proceed to advance
along with it, or jump to catch you from above. Depending on the spacing, you
can CW over the Sonic Boom, FADC it, Focus Attack after absorbing it, block it,
or EX CW THROUGH it. Obviously, the last option is best as this allows you to
catch Guile off guard, although Focus Attacks sometimes throw them off as well.
Some of Guile's slower normals make for excellent opportunities to ShienK, so
try to buffer the motion whenever you're blocking. The easiest move to catch
this with is one of Guile's favorites: the double sweep. You can usually catch
the second sweep as it's winding up, but you need to be specific with your
timing as you can also end up getting hit, or hitting too late. Guile's FK is
also a golden opportunity to launch your specials, Super, or Ultra if he whiffs
or if you block it.
Try to remain passively-aggressive when the Guile player begins putting
pressure on you, as this will keep him from getting too confident. If you can
throw some well timed EXs, Supers, and Ultras, you'll be able to force the
Guile into a turtling position, where you can proceed to pressure HIM instead.
This match is somewhat give and take, as a good Guile player will know when and
how to switch between offense and defense to disrupt your play. If you can do
the same, you stand a good chance of winning.
Advantage to Fei:
1) (EX)CW, FADC, and jumping will beat Sonic Boom advance.
2) Flash Kick recovery is easy to counter with any special, Super, or Ultra.
3) Faster pokes at close range.
4) ShienK can beat some basic normal combos.
5) Guile needs to get in close in order to do real damage; open to counters.
=================================
VS Cammy (65-35) [CMY]
--------------------
Start the match with a Focus Attack, and Dash Cancel if deemed necessary.
1) Spiral arrow:
Block> ShienK. You can also Focus absorb for a crumple if she uses the
LK/MK version, though you'll need to release early for the HK/EX before the
subsequent hits follow. This move will usually lead to a Cannon Spike or
standing throw, so reverse the move early or move away. Against experienced
Cammy's, these will only be linked from c+LP/LK combos rather than throw
out of the blue.
2) Spinning Backfist:
ShienK before impact, jump, or take the opportunity to launch a Super
or Ultra. These can't be combo'd into, so you should be able to see these
coming a mile away. Don't strike too early as her spinning animation makes
her invincible to many attacks. This eats Focus Attacks, so you may
consider charging a Focus to bait this, then dash cancel into ShienK.
3) Cannon Spike:
Block and RKK or take the opportunity to launch a Super/Ultra. ShienK will
trade in many instances, so it may not be the preferred option here.
If you absorb this with a Focus Attack, be sure to dash cancel either
forward or backward and then launch an attack to catch Cammy from her fall.
If you don't dash, Cammy will fall behind you, and you won't be able to
recover in time to punish. This effect may also occur when you block low.
4) Hooligan Combo:
Block LOW, ShienK before impact, or CW to meet her in the air. Blocking low
will protect you completely although some Cammy's will cancel out the
attack part of the Hooligan combo and use a standing throw instead. To
counter this, bait the cancel and then CW to stop the throw, or just tech.
5) Cannon Strike:
Block and ShienK. It comes from above, but it's not an overhead, so there's
nothing to really think about. Do watch out if you're close to Cammy,
however, as this move has a tendency to magically teleport her to your
backside even if it hits in front (cross-up property, although it's really
unusual). This seems to happen if you crouch block this attack as opposed
to doing a standing block. This move is typically used as a combo opener.
Cammy's pressure play can lead to some pretty big Super or Ultra combos, so
you need to be a more defensive against her. As listed above, her special
moves are all trumped by blocking low and can easily be countered with ShienK.
Overall, Cammy is a lot like Fei-Long with a focus on combos and links rather
than mind games; don't neglect her ability to punish your mistakes, or you'll
be in for a sore surprise.
A basic strategy is to turtle a bit until you can push her against the wall. At
that point, use fast pokes and throws to avoid being reversed by an Ultra or
Super combo which will allow Cammy the breathing room she needs to escape your
traps. Remember that Cammy's Super/Ultra require you to be on the ground to
connect fully. Consider using CW or backdash whenever you see the start-up for
these moves as they will allow you to get airborne and avoid a large majority
of the damage.
Good Cammy's can be somewhat unpredictable, so don't let up your guard. Be more
patient with her than you would with other characters; anyone who can chain
normals/specials into a Super/Ultra deserves that kind of caution.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Focus Attack/FADC can beat all of her specials with timing.
2) Blocking low beats all of her specials.
3) Fei's specials can reverse or counter Cammy's.
4) Fei's Ultra/Super can fully catch Cammy from her own Ultra/Super if you
launch as soon as the last hit makes block stun.
5) Fei has a full pressure game; Cammy lacks an overhead.
=================================
VS Abel (75-25) [ABL]
--------------------
Ironically, Tenshin works wonders here for countering Abel's roll as it can
grab him at any point in the animation. Use this whenever possible to get in
free hits and to disrupt Abel's Roll> Tornado Throw game. Normal throws will
work too.
Abel actually has some mean combos into his Change of Direction. He can do this
from low jabs, cross-ups, or just out of the blue. It has about the same range
as a HP RKK, so use that as reference. Be mindful that this attack can be
switched up a number of ways with Second High/Low and Finish High/Low. The one
you'll see most is CoD> 2nd High> Finish High, as that combo cannot be broken
once it's been hit-confirmed.
To beat Abel, you need to out pace him with your own jab combos and mind games.
Crouch blocking will prevent being combo'd from the ground, but watch for his
j+MK cross-up. Use CW reversal to cross-up escape on wake-up. Turtle until you
can position Abel by the wall. Once he's there, use long-range pressure to
avoid his Tornado Throw and to keep him pinned. At the wall, you only need to
watch for jumps, rolls, and his Super/Ultra, as none of his other moves are
fast enough to counter you, provided you watch spacing.
A great pressure tool against Abel is MK CW which will beat any of Abel's moves
except for a lucky Falling Sky. What's great about this move is that if Abel
blocks, he gets chipped down; if he ducks, he gets crossed up; and if he
tries to attack with anything slower than a puny jab, he gets hit with all
three CWs for a +2 frame advantage. Also, if you do get hit out of this move,
you get a safe reset which allows you to block the next attack or simply launch
another CW as soon as you touch the ground. Keep each option in mind so you
know how to follow up successfully.
Never stand in throw range against Abel unless you're confident in your mind
games. Crouch in mid-range to bait an overhead kick or CoD> Second High (as any
good Abel will know that it hits overhead). On block stun, punish the Overhead
with RKK, or use ShienK as a counter-hit. ShienK will also catch the 2nd hit of
CoD.
If Abel jumps, CW will allow you to avoid the cross-up and possibly hit
him as well. To stay in mid-range, keep working your pushes; this will force
Abel to use his slower moves to advance. A good mind game is to just keep
pushing Abel and then jump/dash away to aggravate him by forcing him to chase
after you when you have the advantage.
Don't use too many big moves against Abel as he can punish pretty hard with his
Ultra. The execution of the Ultra pretty much freezes everything, so timing its
impact is easier than, say, Fei-Long's Ultra. If Abel throws out his Ultra
without a setup, you can simply jump to avoid the hit and land right in his
face. Using u+HK will allow you to start some pretty big combos on him,
provided that you've practiced them. Remember that u+HK can be linked to an
Ultra or Super, although you can also just fall without the kick and launch
from there. On block, you can punish the Ultra with anything.
** As of the Championship Mode patch, Fei can no longer perform an infinite on
either Seth or Abel. Though HK CW> HP> EX CW works, you're limited to the # of
meters you have stored. This guide, however, does not take the infinite into
account when rating the match-up.
Advantage to Fei:
1) CW spam beats everything except jab, Roll, or a well timed Falling Sky.
2) ShienK beats COD and Overhead Kick.
3) ShienK/RKK reverses COD and Overhead Kick.
4) Blocking low can bait some easily counterable or dodgeable attacks.
5) Rekkaken strikes faster than COD at range.
6) Throws/Tenshin beat rolling.
7) Range and speed advantage on normals.
8) Fei can do damage and then run/CW away to turtle for the rest of the round
=================================
VS Sagat (40-60) [SGT]
--------------------
EX CW is almost a NECESSITY here. Sagat recovers from his Tiger Shots so much
faster than other projectile throwers, and Sagat's combo-ability is extremely
high against jump-ins (Yes, you'll need to jump in at times).
Tiger Shots can all be blocked STANDING, so there's no real guess work there.
To avoid chip, however, you want to consider ducking/straight jumping over the
High, and jumping over the Low Tiger. Just be sure to prepare for an attack
when you land because Sagat can spam his specials almost lightning fast.
Crouch blocking just outside of Sagat's sweep range is a good idea as it
nullifies some of his options, such as High Tiger Shot and Tiger Knee. Crouch
blocking will also reduce Sagat's combo-ability, as his best combo starter is
his c+MK which may lead to a number of high-damage alternatives.
Against Low Tiger Shot, you can take the block stun and reverse with RKK for
chip, or attempt a jump-in. Timed right, a jump-in can lead to a nice j+HK> HP>
ShienK combo which will put Sagat on the floor and allow you to creep closer.
Watch for Tiger Uppercut reversal on wake-up, and punish with a Super or Ultra
if you see it. If he uses Tiger Knee, reverse with ShienK if it hits deep or
RKK if it's shallow (EX may be necessary). EX Tiger is safe, so expect a follow
up to that. If he just blocks, take the opportunity to do pressure play. Cross-
ups work nicely to screw with Sagat's reversals and wake-up specials, so make
use of it when you can.
You need to be extra fast to punish Sagat after blocking one of his specials.
That means reversing EVERY Tiger Uppercut or Knee that does not make a clean
hit. If you don't, he'll throw another one, throw you, or go for some crazy
combination into a Super/Ultra. In order to limit his options, stay out of
throw range and keep light pressure on him until he tries to do a big attack.
Thankfully, Sagat's Super and Ultra are *easily* punishable by Fei-Long's own.
It's recommended to stay out of the air, save for guaranteed situations (when
Sagat is still in wind-down animation, dizzied, etc.). Sagat typically relies
on your jump-ins (and low-hitting combo starters) for his large combos. Nullify
both opportunities by crouch blocking when he's idle, and jumping when he's
unable to react.
Consider Sagat a wall of pain. He lacks the mobility that characters like Fei
have, meaning he relies on your mistakes to do real damage. Use Fei's nimble
movement to play a strong mix-up game. Once Sagat gets frustrated, he'll start
his own attack which isn't too difficult to reverse or counter. Watch for the
Super/Ultra when he has meter and use that opportunity to end the match.
Advantage to Sagat:
1) Tiger Uppercut damage/priority/speed.
2) Tiger Knee damage/priority/speed.
3) Tiger Shot damage/priority/speed.
4) HK, f+HK; almost any kick damage/priority/speed.
5) Safe Tiger Knee block strings require good timing or a retreat.
6) Second most stamina in the game.
7) Insane combos into Super and Ultra juggle.
8) Ultra does nearly 600 damage at full charge
=================================
VS Blanka (40-60) [BLK]
--------------------
[Please read the "Charge Characters" note in the VS Guile section]
Against a good Blanka, this makes for a fairly interesting fight as Blanka has
a really good mix-up game that can confuse you pretty easily. Normally, you'll
find two types of Blankas--pressure players and turtlers.
Against a turtler, you really have nothing to fear. A Blanka who turtles leaves
openings for you to do your own pressure game. You can completely destroy
Blanka's Horizontal Rolls with jabs, but if you've got good timing, you can
also use ShienK or EX ShienK for HUGE damage. The timing for this is actually
quite easy to master and the attack can eat through any version of Blanka's
Horizontal Rolls. Just watch out for short rolls that might throw you off;
these will typically lead to a throw if you try to block the ball. To be sure,
ShienK rolls at mid-range only as Blanka's shortest roll will still travel
about half a screen. Remember that the EX Roll will always go a full screen.
If you're up close, opt to use c+MK as it is excellent for stuffing Blanka's
electric attack (provided that you're not already standing in it or too close
to it to begin with).
Pressure players can be pretty tough to deal with since Blanka has attacks that
can hit high, low, or overhead at a moment's notice. Blanka has fantastic range
and also has a viscious cross-up game to consider. For these reasons, it's
best to stay at medium to far range where you can avoid large combos and bait
slower jump-ins. At mid-range, you can expect to see his Amazon River Run move
a lot--it's pretty fast on startup and can move halfway across the screen. You
actually want this attack to come out as you can easily block it and punish
with RKK, Super, or Ultra.
VS Horizontal Rolls that are combo'd into or done at short range, you need to
be quick to Dash> LP RKK or MP RKK on block. MP RKK reversal will whiff the
1st hit, connect on the 2nd, and may/may not hit on the 3rd if Blanka is still
in the air. Dash> LP RKK will be able to connect all 3 hits.
VS Rainbow rolls, you can focus absorb the hit and dash cancel either forward
or backward. You can also try to block the attack, although you need to be wary
that this attack can cross you up. Punish Blanka with ShienK or RKK as he
descends. At times, Blanka's Rainbow roll may actually strike as a cross-up,
and then land in front or vice versa--watch for this, as you don't want to
whiff the punishment.
VS High rolls, there's nothing you can do to avoid this if you're in the air,
so try not to get too jumpy. Blanka may use this attack at times to run out of
the corner or just move to the other side. You HAVE to punish him while he is
still in the air. Once his feet touch ground, he'll be able to move, so use the
move best suited for the situation.
Blocking the Ultra is actually quite deceptive. When it first launches, you
need to block low as there's a shock wave at close range that causes a hit-stun
effect if you don't. After blocking low, immediately switch to a high block as
the next hit comes overhead.
If you're not in direct contact with the electricity already, Blanka can hold
his position until you are, or until the Ultra is over. You can hit Blanka out
of his Electric Roll if he's just being idle with the attack, but this requires
some precision. Launching an Ultra at this time may be a good idea as your
invincibility frames for the 1st hit will allow you to beat Blanka's own Ultra
(just make sure you're in range for the 1st hit). CW may be used to hop over
Blanka, but this is tricky and not too reliable.
In order to reverse this Ultra successfully, you need to launch RSG a second
AFTER Blanka reaches the peak of rebound. You'll know you did this right if you
see Blanka's back or feet during the start-up. The same idea applies to RSK.
You can also successfully counter with RKK for less meter.
What makes this a tough fight is that half of the match is spent trying to
punish Blanka's moves--notably his horizontal roll, which requires pinpoint
timing/reflexes. Only once Blanka's damaging specials are neutralized will he
begin going on the attack with his mix-up game which is also very hard to get
around. Patience and practice is the best way to stay ahead.
Advantage to Blanka:
1) Rolls are difficult to punish, especially when used in combos.
2) Rolls do a LOT of damage.
3) Blanka's close-range mix-ups are deadlier; hops can be used to instantly
cross you up.
4) Chip damage from specials, especially the Ultra, makes a close match not so
close.
5) Focus attack is almost nullified in this match due to rolls/rebound arcs.
6) Blanka's Super/Ultra are easy to use as anti-airs.
=================================
VS E.Honda (60-40) [HND]
--------------------
[Please read the "Charge Characters" note in the VS Guile section]
Honda's game is similar to Blanka's due to their similar moveset, although his
mid-range game is less of a threat (he only has two moves that can attack at
mid-range: the headbutt and the press). Honda is also much slower to attack in
general and doesn't have Blanka's crazy cross-ups to confuse you with.
As with Blanka, MP/HP/EX RKK his rebound after you block a Headbutt. You can
actually do this and connect with all three hits without dashing. The EX
version of the Headbutt can only be reversed with EX RKK so be sure to save
meter for that. This attack actually causes a lot of chip damage, so simply
blocking it will put you on the losing end. Getting hit by this move is also
worse than with Blanka as Honda's Headbutt causes more damage. The Headbutt
can be ShienK'd just like Blanka's roll, but it's a bit tougher to do as it
moves much faster at HP and EX speed. At range, you can use CW to knock Honda
out of the Headbutt, although you need some space for this to work properly.
After headbutting you, Hondas will typically pressure you with their Hundred-
Hand-Slap and command throw (which has pretty large range). With effective mind
games, this will be a pain to escape when you're by the wall. CW reversal will
usually do it, and it will also get you out of cross-up/Oicho Throw traps which
Hondas like to do a lot.
Once you push Honda by the wall, you'll have to watch out for 3 very deadly
moves: EX Headbutt, EX Press, and the command throw (Honda's Hundred-Hand-Slap
won't get him out of the corner, so it's only good for dealing damage). To keep
him by the wall, don't stand too close over his body. Rather, stay just outside
of his Hand-Slap range to avoid most attacks. Once he stands up, begin the
pressure game again. Cross-ups also work very well against Honda, as his Press
and Headbutt will face the wrong direction if poorly timed, allowing you a free
hit and a chance to avoid his wake-up games.
I'd recommend that you don't do jump-ins too much when Honda is crouching, as
Honda's Press can hit you twice, going up then down. You can Focus absorb the
initial part of the attack, but you need to avoid the second part. The second
part of Honda's press (when he comes down with his butt) is safe on block, so
work to catch the attack before it hits you. If you're forced to block,
consider getting away or trying to throw Honda, as he'll likely attempt a block
or throw himself.
Advantage to Honda:
1) Headbutt rebound is easy to punish with MP/HP/EX RKK.
2) Headbutt/Press can be countered with ShienK before impact.
3) Honda's specials can do decent damage, but once nullified (see #1,2), he
must get close to score damage (Fei's domain).
4) Championship HK CW now has plenty of invulnerable frames on start-up to
avoid cross-up traps easily.
5) Cross-ups work well on Honda.
=================================
VS Gouken (60-40) [GKN]
--------------------
This isn't really that tough of a battle. You have a number of tricks to get
past Gouken's offense:
1) Hadouken:
Gouken will usually do this from range to keep you from getting too close.
To beat this, wait until the hadouken is launched before reacting. There
really is no way to tell which way the fireball is going until it leaves
his hands, so be patient. Jump straight up for horizontal ones, duck for
the slightly angled one, and move forward for the one that goes at 45
degrees. Watch for his horizontal SRK as you advance. As always, EX CW will
catch a Hadouken charging Gouken completely off guard.
2) Horizontal SRK:
This is used as both a surprise move and as part of combos. ShienK will
beat out this slow-moving attack every time, so as soon as you see him
slide forward, buffer the motion for massive Fire-in-the-face! CW will also
work as a counter, especially since it has armor break to defeat the EX
version. Since you don't have fireballs for Gouken to slide past, don't
expect to see the normal version of this move as often as the EX version,
but still be on your guard. The EX version combos, so it's much deadlier.
Block> ShienK or RKK if it hits deep.
3) Vertical and Air Tatsumaki:
The vertical Tatsumaki is another attack that you'll rarely see launched on
its own due to its slow start-up speed. There's not much you can do to
avoid this attack if you jump into it or if you're thrown into a combo.
The air version of this move is mainly used as an escape and won't really
bother you unless you jump into it. Up close, block and be creative.
4) Demon Flip:
A tricky move like Cammy's Hooligan Combo, this move shouldn't really scare
you as you can beat it with a ShienK, CW, or close HP. Again, CW will allow
you to escape before the attack reaches you, and may even counter Gouken in
the air. As with Akuma, learn to watch for the flip as it's likely to come
out as a combo starter or a corner escape. Block> ShienK will work against
the diving kick and sweep, but don't forget that he can also throw.
5) Counters:
Gouken's two counters cover high/medium and low hits, depending on the
version that he uses. They can be launched at any instant, so avoiding this
takes a bit of luck. One thing that Gouken can't do is counter in the
middle of a combo, so if you're spamming 4 c+LK's in a row, you'll get all
4 in. Add in a few throws for mind games and you'll likely scare Gouken
away from trying these counters for the rest of the match. Watch out for
kamikaze Goukens that rush in hoping to counter all of your attacks; after
2 in a row, consider mixing up your game a bit more and being faster in
attacking. CW spam works well to nullify counter-happy Goukens, as a close
range CW will give you the Armor Break that you need to defeat this move.
Gouken's combos are all pretty clean-cut. He hits harder than Ryu, but is also
slower for it. This makes him a prime target for pressure play and mind games.
Gouken's deadliest attack is actually his backward throw, which launches you in
the air for an easy combo. This move will actually combo into a Super, Ultra,
or any of his EX-able moves, barring the Demon Flip.
When playing the pressure game, be sure to stay out of Gouken's immediate throw
range, and use plenty of fast attacks to disrupt his specials. CW spamming may
actually be a good idea as it beats all of Gouken's specials and throws--use
MK/EX CW with an air tight execution to do so. You should also make sure that
the first hit connects in order to get the Armor Break. When spamming CW,
you'll need to watch for the Demon Flip which will allow Gouken to escape
pressure, and also low jabs. ShienK the jabs when he gets confident in using
them, and just turn around to respond to the Flip (it won't hit you, it just
causes you to switch places with him).
DO NOT STAY IN THE CORNER. Many of Gouken's combos require you to be pinned
against the wall; stay towards the center of the screen until you can put
Gouken by the wall on your terms. Once there, CW spam, throws, ShienK, low
pokes and overheads will keep Gouken completely pinned down.
Once Gouken's Ultra meter is full, you might consider becoming more defensive.
Stay just outside of sweep range, forcing him to walk, throw Hadoukens, demon
flip, or otherwise open himself up. If you're overly offensive at this point,
you could end up eating a Shin Shoryuken in the face instead of seeing your
attack go through. By the time his Ultra has charged, you should also expect
him to be more aggressive about trying to back-throw you into his Ultra. At
this point Gouken's game can get pretty predictable so use that to your
advantage.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Speed in attack.
2) ShienK counters Shoryuken, Demon Flip, Tatsumaki.
3) CW counters Shoryuken, Demon Flip, (Air)Tatsumaki, Counters.
4) EX CW will trump fireball game.
5) Can close in on Gouken fast with dash and CW.
6) Unpredictable Fei vs Predictable Gouken.
=================================
VS M.Bison (55-45) [BSN]
--------------------
[Please read the "Charge Characters" note in the VS Guile section]
If there is any one move that defines Bison, it's his Headstomp. This move does
so much damage even when it's not EX'd, and it also counts as an overhead
attack, forcing you to block high. The good news is though, that if you can get
into Bison's face, you'll be able to stop him from doing this move offensively,
and perhaps freeze him entirely. Methods to avoid the Headstomp:
[a] Block. If he hits you while blocking, he'll likely follow up with a Dive
for additional chip damage. You can ShienK this version of the dive before
it connects, but u+MK is safer an probably the better tool. Blocking may
also lead Bison to CANCEL out the move with a Dive instead. Watch the
Dive's trajectory. If used offensively, you can block again and counter, or
try to evade it. This move trades with ShienK, but it's not a good trade.
[b] Focus absorb. Cancel this with a dash right after, as Bison will follow up
with a Dive for a 2nd hit. Block the dive or dash away--you don't want to
gamble a trade while you're still recovering from the Focus.
[c] Dash. You can dash underneath Bison and then attack him as he lands behind,
or you can dash backwards and attack him face-to-face. If he doesn't cancel
this, you get a free hit. Otherwise, counter the Dive as in [a].
[d] Interception. j+MK seems to be best to counter this if you jump early. If
you jump late, use u+MK to swat Bison down. This works best when Bison is
at the peak of the Headstomp; if he's coming down, it's much harder to
land.
[e] CW evade. CW will move you forward and out of the Headstomp's trajectory.
Expect a Dive cancel afterwards and punish/block/close in.
Personally, I prefer methods [a] and [d], as I'm familiar with the timing for
both counters. Your safest bet, of course, is just to block and begin moving
again after the stun. Since the Headstomp is best at range, once you've closed
the distance, the attack's usefulness will be severely reduced. At this point,
it's Fei's game, assuming you play it right.
Bison's strengths on his feet are in his high/low hitting openers that lead to
big combos. Face-to-face, you can expect some quick jabs to come out of Bison's
hands as they are his segway into a Double Knee Press combo. To stop the combo,
you'll need to block low. Blocking low will also help you to avoid Bison's c+HK
slide/sweep attack which can travel halfway across the screen. Though you can't
do much to stop Bison's block string if he's accurate with it, you can at least
counter the slide: use c+LP> RKK or ShienK on impact (normals will work as
well).
CW spam will often allow you to catch Bison in his DKP if he decides to use it
out of the blue. Bison's Psycho Crusher can be easily countered by ShienK, so
you can use it if you feel comfortable with the timing. Often, you can just
block and wait for Bison to stop before you launch a counter though. Here, RKK
or c+LP> RKK works best.
Cross-ups work wonders against Bison as he has no vertical anti-air to hit you
as you come down on him. The best thing he can do is Psycho Crusher, teleport,
or DKP to escape the corner; at close range, you'll be able to land before his
Headstomp can hit you, and you'll have an opportunity to counter or evade.
Bison's Ultra isn't really comboable, so expect to see it only when you screw
up an attack. Do watch out when he has his Super meter filled though, as that
can be combo'd into as easily as a DKP combo. To beat the Ultra, block standing
until Bison's Psycho Crusher passes your body, then reverse directions for any
counter that you want to pull (Ultra!). For the Super, block LOW, as the Super
ends in a c+HK slide.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Better pokes to defeat ground-game.
2) CW can help avoid the Headstomp.
3) Fei's in-and-out style can disrupt Bison's ability to do combos.
4) Fei's overhead/cross-ups will disrupt a charging Bison.
5) Bison has no anti-air special to defend against jump-ins/cross-up traps (the
best he can do is escape cross-ups with specials).
=================================
VS Balrog (60-40) [BLR]
--------------------
[Please read the "Charge Characters" note in the VS Guile section]
To start the match there are two moves that can keep you relatively safe: jump
backwards or crouch block. Jumping backwards gets you out of range of the
headbutt, although a clever Balrog may still be able to hit you with one of his
rushing punches. Crouch blocking will stop any special barring Balrog's
overhead punch which is highly telegraphic so it should be easy to switch your
guard. The con to crouch blocking, however, is that you give Balrog a chance to
advance, which may not be ideal to start the match. Balrog also does a lot of
chip damage, so while you may not be down-and-out by blocking, you do start the
match on the losing end. Use the block stun to try a reversal to turn the tides
in your favor.
The difference between Balrog and other charge characters is that he can have 2
moves charged at once: his Turn Punch, and another charge move. Watch for the
moves that come out as once he's launched them he'll have to back off on his
offense, giving you breathing room and a chance to begin your own offensive
strategy.
Let's analyze Balrog's moves:
1) Headbutt
This can lead to some huge juggles, though it's also a very powerful attack
on its own. This move can hit you at the start of the match if you don't
block or jump back. To punish, Block> ShienK or RKK.
If you Focus absorb this at close range you'll need to dash cancel as
Balrog will cross over to your other side. At long range, you can hold the
focus attack and punish as he comes down.
Watch out for combos up close into this move, as they're relatively easy to
pull off (a couple jabs into a Headbutt is common). For that reason, crouch
block when Balrog is close until you're out of his combo range. This move
provides Balrog with some invincibility frames so try not to jump in when
he's crouching idly.
2) Dash Straight
This can be aimed low or changed to the Overhead so blocking may be tricky.
If Balrog launches this at long range, you have plenty of options:
[a] Do a u+HK combo starter to catch him while he is moving.
[b] ShienK will beat this move most of the time, even the EX.
[c] CW at mid-range for all three hits to connect. This will win at mid-range,
but not always at long range. Time it so Balrog gets hit when he is right
in the middle of the screen (assuming you're on the far left or right).
[d] Rekkaken to trade hits. This may be a good idea if you have plenty of life
but Balrog is on his last sliver, as it moves you forward and prevents
Balrog from switching it up last second.
[e] Block and c+LP> RKK or ShienK reversal against HP version (Balrog goes DEEP
into you with the punch).
[f] Focus Attack for a free opportunity to Ultra him.
3) Dash Overhead
Although it's somewhat telegraphic, this move hits twice and is usually
EX'd for Armor. This makes it tricky to defeat using ShienK, although it's
completely possible if you launch quickly. If you DO get hit by this,
you're open for c+MP> Headbutt> Ultra, which does huge damage. Your best
bet is Block> ShienK or RKK. You can also gamble a Super/Ultra.
3) Dash Uppercut
This move can catch your feet from below if you try to jump. Focus Attack
armor also will not hold against this move. To punish, Block> c+LP> RKK or
ShienK when deep. A counter is trickier if this move is EX'd, so consider
using EX ShienK to ensure a fast strike.
4) Turn Punch
If you see it, it's probably best to block/punish the recovery or his
attacks following this one. If you ShienK too early you'll whiff, leaving
you open for a free hit--use throws at close range instead. CW will usually
beat this attack at mid-long range as it gives you 3 chances to hit Balrog.
You will usually see this move as a part of Balrog's advance as the initial
frames give him the invicibility frames that he needs to creep up on you.
In many cases, he will not be close enough to throw, so it's safest just to
keep blocking in case another special is launched. If he doesn't follow up,
you can RKK reversal to punish. As with all punches, you can counter with
ShienK before impact.
Balrog's main strengths lie in his sheer power and safe normals. On block, most
of Balrog's normals will keep him completely safe, leaving no openings for you
to take advantage of; for this reason, never try to get in a jab war with a
Balrog. Though Balrog's specials do great damage, he is scariest when up close
as he can link his fast jabs into large combo openers.
To beat him, you need to mix up all three styles of play effectively. Turtle
his Turn Punch> Special advance or work to counter it. Move Balrog towards the
corner, and proceed to use fast pokes, CW spam, cross-ups and ShienK to keep
him there. On wake-up, you need to be watchful of his Headbutt, so stay back or
cross him up if you've already knocked him down.
If you crouch near mid range, you limit Balrog's options to jumps and Dashing
Punch mix-ups, both of which can be easy to catch with ShienK. If he walks
forward, remember that CW is your best option, as the only move he can charge
while moving forward is his Turn Punch, which will lose to CW if you unleash
first.
If your opponent allows you to get far away and you have more life, just wait
out the timer. Jump over, CW, or ShienK his specials if he uses them from afar.
Advantage to Fei:
1) ShienK counters most Dash attacks and Headbutt before impact/on block.
2) RKK can counter most Dash attacks and Headbutt on block.
3) CW triumphs at mid-range.
4) Fei defeats Balrog's advance at long range entirely (ShienK, jumping, CW)
5) Cross-ups are easy to do on Balrog
=================================
VS Ken (50-50) [KEN]
--------------------
Since this is a very common match-up, let's look at his moves first and then
breakdown his basic strategy:
1) Shoryuken (SRK)
3 different versions are available, although the two that you will see the
most are the LP and HP versions as they represent the extremes of speed and
power. The LP version is mainly used as an anti-air, while the HP version
is a combo finisher for Ken. If you're already stuck in a combo or if Ken
reads your jump-in, you can't really avoid the hit. However, if you happen
to catch these at random, punish the LP's recovery with ShienK or RKK, and
be creative with the HP one as there's a lot of time to play with it.
2) Hadouken (HDK)
Slightly slower than Ryu's, although it's essentially the same attack.
You'll see less of this in combos as Kens love the SRK more. It's standard
fare: CW to dodge or EX CW to catch him off guard. Up close, c+MK> HDK is
common; just block and use LP/EX RKK reversal for 3 free hits.
3) Tatsumaki (TSK)
c+MP will knock this down and keep you safe entirely. You can also punish
this one on block stun with a throw, or counter before the impact with
ShienK (close) or CW (mid-far range). If the attack connects, you are at a
mind game disadvantage as Ken can pull anything out after it; you can
really only defend unless you're lucky. LK TSK> Throw is a common mix-up
that you need to watch out for near mid-close range. Air EX TSK is often
used as an alternative to the normal cross-up as a setup for a link into
the Ultra. Stay out of cross-up range.
Kens typically use f+MK to approach since it's a fast poke with great range.
This will usually lead to a c+MK> HDK or just the c+MK. This can get pretty
annoying if you don't know how to counter it. Focus works well to disrupt this
pattern; you can typically catch a Lv1 Focus against the f+MK for no crumple,
and a Lv1 crumple against the c+MK (if he goes for the HDK). If he goes into
c+MK> HDK, you can also reverse with LP RKK or EX RKK depending on the range.
Otherwise, there's no harm in blocking.
One of the big aspects of Ken's game is his excellent cross-up attack which
opens you up to combos, throws, and other mind games. If you crouch too close
to Ken, you allow him the opportunity to jump over you with j+MK or EX TSK,
screwing with all of your inputs for specials. You NEED to recognize the proper
spacing for this, as a jump-in always travels the same distance; if you
understand when and where Ken can cross-up, you can prepare yourself to block
and counter immediately.
After blocking the cross-up, you need to play a little Rock-Paper-Scissors.
Between attacking, throwing, and blocking, you need to predict what Ken will do
and counter it. CW comes in handy for nullifying the throw and dodging some
attacks, but it's tough to pull out of a blocked cross-up and will still lose
to a block; using CW to escape the cross-up entirely may be the better idea.
Most Kens like to follow with an attack rather than blocking, so a ShienK may
be appropriate. FADC the ShienK if you can in order to be safe. Once you get
Ken in your face instead of your back side, your counter-puncher game will
really start to shine.
In front, Ken's moves begin to look pretty normal and non-threatening. Counter
the HDK with CW, the TSK with CW or ShienK, the LP SRK with a fast attack, and
the HP SRK with anything. Again, stay roughly mid-range so that you can see
these moves coming. Play to your strengths at this range by throwing out RKK
and CW when you see an opportunity.
Blocking low really helps to avoid Ken's attempt to hit-confirm an SRK combo.
Don't turtle, however, as remaining in a crouch-block will immobilize you and
make it difficult to negate the cross-up. Spacing is the better defense in
this fight as Ken's reach and foot speed are average compared to yours. For
this reason, pushing is very key. Here's a tidbit for you: c+MP and c+MK have
enough range to push Ken entirely out of his sweep range and you can still
follow up with c+HP for one final push. Use that knowledge as you will.
As far as pressuring Ken, be careful once you start getting in a lot of free
hits, as Ken is likely trying to SRK his way out of the corner. Luckily, SRK
forces the other player to stop pressing the block motion, which may give you
more opportunities to strike. Don't get too confident, however, as one mistake
can lead to a Shoryureppa combo easily. Being fast and working small chips may
be slower-going than big hits, but whiffing can invite the cross-up back into
play as well. Use discretion.
=================================
VS Ryu (45-55) [RYU]
--------------------
DO NOT JUMP-IN LIKE A MANIAC. LP SRK> Super/Ultra is Ryu's easiest way to land
a guaranteed Super/Ultra since it comes out of an anti-air. Ryu's j+MP will
allow a similar advantage as well. For this reason, limit your jump-ins to
guaranteed situations like cross-up traps on a downed Ryu, or immediately
after a whiffed HDK, Super, or Ultra. Focus instead on staying on the ground
and use CW to catch Ryu in between HDKs.
Again, mid-range is a good place to stay, as Ryu's cross-ups are just like
Ken's. Be extra careful with his low-hitting attacks, as those are the openers
to most of his combos. A common quick-damage combo is his c+MK> HDK, which will
push you away even if you block. Block and LP RKK to return the chip damage and
possibly score some clean hits as well.
Much like your Ken game, focus more on countering Ryu's hits with your own
rather than being overly offensive. Lure Ryu out to where you can counter him
with RKKs and ShienKs, THEN go on the attack when you have the momentum. FADC
and Focus Attacks come in handy here, as Ryu's only Armor-Breaking special is
his Tatsumaki. Patience is key, as Ryu WILL leave gaps in his play. All of his
specials leave him wide open if he whiffs, so learn to counter them all. RKK or
CW against HDK, combo or poke an SRK, and throw/ShienK/c+MP a TSK.
Remember that EX CW can go through all types of projectiles, so if Ryu tries to
chip you with his moves on your wake-up, just reverse with EX CW to escape.
Much like the Balrog fight, you can suddenly find yourself on the losing
end if you allow Ryu to get near. Treat Ryu like Balrog with a Hadouken, and
you'll do alright.
Advantage to Ryu:
1) Easy to combo into Super/Ultra.
2) Cross-up game can lead to free hits if you don't counter it.
3) Hard-hitting style matches Fei's own.
4) Ryu controls the air in this match (SRK, Air TSK, j+MP, etc.).
5) Ryu's footsies makes it dangerous to try a pressure game; c+LK/MK will
lead to large Ultra combos.
=================================
VS Dhalsim (60-40) [SIM]
--------------------
[Strategy submitted by bubblan from SRK.com. Some points have been edited for
formatting, or expanded upon for depth.]
First of all, always move forward--you will not beat Sim unless you get close.
The only time you should stay back is if you get a health advantage and Sim is
out of reach; at that point, let him try to get to you. Learn to walk forward
and block as your main approach. This may seem weird but it’s a really good way
to pressure the other player. If he starts spamming pokes just block and
reverse with HP RKK. It will beat pretty much everything he has if he pokes
again and will cause the other player to block more and poke less.
For a more aggressive approach, use j+MP or j+HK to beat or trade with Sim's
normals. Emtpy jumps that fall a bit short may also fool Dhalsim into using his
Yoga Knee which you can punish with just about anything (take care with this as
it is a gamble). When you see a fireball, EX CW at every opening, or MK CW when
in range. Also consider using Focus Attacks to counter Sim's pokes, or FADC to
close in as he's recovering from an attack.
Toward close range, abuse throws as your main pressure tool. Dhalsim doesn't
have many threatening options to punish a throw outside of his Super, so as
long as he doesn't have enough meter to do one, he can only defend against it.
Prior to the Championship update, HK CW could be spammed for excellent results;
now, it's too risky to use up close, so don't rely on it for that. Because Sim
is a bit weird in the air, ShienK> FADC> HK CW no longer works either. Instead,
use MK CW after a second or so.
Rekka pressure may work, but it's also very punishable by Sim's Super (even LP
from max range). Sim's Teleport will also force you to whiff, forcing you to
travel in the wrong direction. Don't get overzealous with RKK for this fight.
Aggressively, Sim has a few options himself. If you see Sim teleport from
across the screen, anticipate a cross-up headbutt into Yoga Flame. You can
block this easily and punish the wind-down. Alternatively, just press HP to
throw a quick punch when he reappears.
Against Sim's Ultra, you can either EX CW for a clean counter, or throw him
when up close. The throw, when executed properly, will allow you to completely
avoid the Ultra during the animation (although the fireball still comes out).
If you're not close, or if you don't have meter, keep back dashing until the
fire runs out, but watch for Sim's cross-up teleport.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Much better damage output.
2) Sim relies on set-ups for the bulk of his damage.
3) Trading attacks will still put Fei on top.
4) EX CW dodges Ultra for a free combo.
5) Sim is SLOW; up close, he's got nothing on Fei save for a Super.
6) Sim has no threatening wake-ups.
=================================
VS Gen (70-30) [GEN]
--------------------
[Please read the "Charge Characters" note in the VS Guile section]
The one thing that all Gens seem to utilize is his cross-up game, and for good
reason too. Since Gen jumps so low to the ground, he can launch his cross-ups
sooner than most other characters; this reduces the amount of time that you
have to react to it, and also makes it much more deceptive since it hits so
deeply. If the cross-up connects, Gen can knock you down for free damage; good
Gen's may also launch a Super/Ultra at this point to catch you as you fall. As
with other cross-ups, you can can just block this and counter with ShienK or
fast pokes.
There are three main special moves that Gen may use outside of a combo, and
thankfully they're easily countered:
1) Jyasen:
Gen's rolling attack, much like Vega's roll, however, this one moves at a
slower pace. This move can be countered by ShienK (before impact), but is
otherwise safe from reversals. This is mainly a damage move, so you're
unlikely to see it linked to larger combos.
2) Oga:
Another Vega-like move, Gen's wall dive is also slower than Vega's and is
much more telegraphic. Gen has 3 options after jumping: kick you at an
angle, jump to the ceiling and kick you straight down, or do no attack at
all. Again, ShienK this move for free damage, or at the very least, block
it. This move transitions into a Super/Ultra combo easily and can turn the
tides of the match if you let it.
3) Gekiro:
A variation of the Shoryuken, although your opponent must work to get all 8
hits in; the initial kick is pretty pathetic on its own. This move is often
used as an anti-air/anti-cross-up, and you will often see this after a
Super Combo, but it's otherwise an easily punishable move. Don't get
predictable with jump-ins or CW to avoid this. You can bait this as a wake-
up attack by advancing on Gen; block it and counter with ShienK or RKK.
This move will stuff cross-ups, so don't try if you expect it.
The last of Gen's specials is his Hyakurenko, or thousand-palms attack. This is
much like Chun-Li's Lightning Legs, or Honda's Hundred-Hand Slap and will be
thrown in at the end of combos. As an anti-air, this does pathetic damage and
will not allow Gen to combo further; for this reason, there is little to really
fear about this move--if it hits, it hits. Do note that the damage taken from
this move is pretty high, however.
Gen's Supers/Ultras work as great anti-airs, so don't get careless about
jumping or CW mid-late match. Gen can also link his (Mantis style) Super into
his Ultra in order to even out the match. The best way to avoid this is to
simply limit his meter-gaining opportunities by pinning him down/blocking his
attacks.
Beyond specials, there's not much to consider when fighting Gen. He has some
strong moves including an overhead and an air target-combo, but that's about it
for him. For this fight, you should take advantage of Gen's lack of speed and
reliable wake-up attack to pressure him and keep him in the corner. Once you've
damaged him enough to take the lead, just hang back and counter whatever he
tries to throw at you.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Speed in attack.
2) Gen's lack of a good wake-up reversal to escape pressure.
3) Fei can pressure AND counter Gen effectively.
=================================
VS Rose (60-40) [RSE]
--------------------
When fighting Rose, watch for low hitting moves which will lead to her Shamwow
Punch (charges forward with her towel wrapped around her hand). This actually
does decent damage and will knock you down, setting you up for cross-ups. Like
Bison, there are versions of this move that keep Rose safe from harm, making
this fight somewhat annoying.
For jump-ins, Rose has a huge Focus Attack and a fast air grab to protect her.
Compared to being combo'd by Ryu's LP SRK> Ultra, however, it's not so bad to
get caught by these. Although she can catch CW with her air grab, this is still
the better method of approaching as the timing for the counter is strict. Use
your own discretion for your air approach.
At long-range, CW her fireballs or jump in to catch her as she winds up.
At mid-range, your RKK will lose out to Rose's Shamwow Punch in terms of damage
trading, as will Focus Attacks (the move has armor break). If you're caught at
mid-range, use CW's invincibility frames to screw with Rose's Punch and shift
the momentum. Your objective here is to close in on Rose as quickly as possible
so that you can begin pressure. Once you're at an advantage, back off to
counter her fireballs and jumping approach.
At close range, keep light pressure on Rose with jabs, Rekkas and CW mix-ups.
Once in the corner, you need to watch for her ShamPunch reversal the most, as
it provides Rose with some invincibility and will push you away from her.
Throws will beat the Punch when in range as they can catch Rose while she winds
up. Farther away, ShienK them for the counter-hit or block. Shallow ShamPunches
are safe; if she does a deep one, however, ShienK or c+LP> RKK to punish.
Once Rose's Ultra has been charged you need to reduce the amount of time spent
in the air and perform fewer large attacks. Rose's Ultra can catch anything
within its horizontal range and will make her invincible on startup. Opt to
counter her moves at this point, taking advantage of her errors instead.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Pressure game works well on Rose.
2) Cross-ups work well on Rose.
3) EX CW will beat fireballs and Super.
4) Rose's Reflect has limited use in this match, so that's one less factor to
worry about.
=================================
VS Chun-Li (60-40) [CHN]
--------------------
[Please read the "Charge Characters" note in the VS Guile section]
A typical Chun strategy is to launch a fireball and walk behind it. This allows
her to creep into positioning for low pokes into her Lightning Legs combo which
does a decent amount of damage. Blocking low will prevent this combo from
happening, although Chun does have a relatively powerful overhead special. This
special can be Focused if you see it coming, so at mid-range consider using
Focus as a defense. Focus will also catch her c+HK, so if you need to be
defensive this is your best bet.
Try to avoid jumping in this match as Chun has a 2-hit aerial attack which can
set you up for a Lightning Legs combo on the ground. This double hit can also
catch you on the ground, so try not to get Focus-happy against jump-ins. You
can expect this combo a lot as it is one of her bread-and-butter combos for
damage. The other combo has her launching you into the air for multiple rising
kicks; both are similar in damage, so there isn't much discerning one from the
other. Just crouch block them both to avoid the hit.
Crouch blocking, however, places you in a position for Chun's command cross-up.
On hit, this will usually lead to one of her BnB combos or other cross-up
options (throw, block, etc.). This is actually easy to see coming as Chun jumps
at a very unique angle and faces you before striking. Block this as you would
any other cross-up and proceed to block the hits following it; this may lead to
an opportunity to ShienK counter, or at the very least you'll be safe. If Chun
opts to throw, she'll need to walk forward a couple of steps. Train yourself to
see this coming so you can tech the throw or launch a CW for free hits. CW may
also allow you to escape the cross-up entirely.
In order to effectively pressure Chun, you need to mind spacing. Too close, and
you'll have to play defensively against her cross-up, while being too far will
allow her time to do a fireball set-up. Stay just out of her c+HK range in
order to bait her into your RKK.
If you knock her down, you can cross her up, jump in, or walk right up to her.
If Chun doesn't have meter, she doesn't have many options to prevent Fei's
offensive approach. If she does have meter, however, you need to watch for EX
Spinning Bird Kick or EX Legs on wake-up. You can try baiting the SBK by
standing over her on wakeup; on block, you can reverse with RKK or poke her
into RSK. EX Legs are safe, but if you can force her to burn meter, do it.
Once you have Chun in the corner, focus again on mid-range pressure. Your aim
throughout the match is to limit Chun's striking options and opportunities to
build meter. Keep light RKK pressure on her, alternating that with fast normals
and your f+MK overhead. Block anything that comes your way in order to ensure
that Chun doesn't gain much from trying to punish you. Specials will allow her
to build meter, but Chun's non-EX specials aren't really designed for getting
out of the corner--as long as she lacks meter, she's there to stay.
Chun's Ultra requires you to be on the ground, though it CAN juggle you in the
air if you're caught in the corner. Chun can't successfully reverse any of your
fast normals with an Ultra, so as long as you aren't caught in the middle of an
attack animation you're safe. Since CW puts you in the air on start-up, that
may be a safer pressure option than RKK later in the match. Of course, jumping
and backdash will also get you off the ground to avoid the Ultra animation. If
you have an Ultra or Super you can also just launch it when she launches hers.
The Ultra ends with an upward stabbing kick on block. As soon as you see this,
do a reversal attack (anything will do).
The only time Chun wins flat-out in this match is when she is in the air.
Because of her 2-hit j+HP, u+HK, air throw, and stomps, she can totally
dominate the air, provided that she jumps first. If you face a Chun that
pressures heavily, counter and then turn the tables on her. Your normals are
faster; use your block strings to keep her pinned and to push her out of her
comboable range. If you can keep her from building meter, you'll be fine.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Superior health
2) Superior speed
3) Damage against Chun is magnified due to her low health
4) Chun is relatively predictable (cross-ups, esp.)
5) Mid-range, Chun has mainly 1-hit attacks that are easy to Focus/punish
6) Chun has no threatening wake-up options to get out of the corner when she
lacks meter.
=================================
VS Dan (75-25) [DAN]
--------------------
Beating Dan won't take as much effort as the other Shotos as Dan isn't too
combo-oriented and he's strictly a mid-close range fighter (Fei's domain).
Since long combos are less likely, I'll only break down his individual moves so
that you know what to do to counter/avoid them.
1) GADOKEN!
Dan's projectile barely reaches past his own sweep range using the HP/EX
versions. On its own, it leaves Dan relatively vulnerable so you're
unlikely to see it thrown out there at random (save for building meter and
chipping). EX CW past it, block and LP RKK, or jump if you see it. On
occasion, this may be used as part of block strings in place of the
Koryuken as it keeps Dan safe.
2) Koryuken
Dan's version of the SRK is actually pretty nice. It does decent damage for
being an inferior version, and is likely to be the icing on most of his
combos. This attack is as punishable as other variations, so on block be
creative. At the end of combos or as an anti-air there's little you can do
to stop it--try to avoid situations where Dan can launch this safely as
this is his main tool.
3) Dankukyaku
This move has Armor Break, so don't sit around charging a Focus thinking
you're invincible. The three hit version does decent damage, but you're
more likely to see just the 1-hit version used as it is safe on block. Dan
will actually win in the air every time with the 1-hit DanK, and this move
will trade with a lot of attacks on the ground as well. To avoid the this,
throw out some fast normals to catch him during wind-up. The EX version of
this move is actually quite fast for a mid-range tool, and Dan only commits
to the 3 hits if the first one connects. Block and throw the 3-hit one if
he tries it.
4) Hissho Buraiken
Dan's Super is easily cancelable from a simple low poke, although the
damage from it is average and Dan must be in throw range for this to be a
100% guarantee. You're not too likely to see this in a match as Dan's EXs
are better for damage dealing (and almost necessary to compensate for his
inferior moves). On block, this attack ends with a Koryuken, so wait for
that to punish. You can also take advantage of the small window before the
Koryuken, but it's a big risk and the window AFTER is much better.
5) Shisso Buraiken
This is Dan's trump card. Though the damage isn't too high, this Ultra is
actually very easy to connect with as there are only two possibilities: Hit
or Miss. If you're open and Dan launches, you're getting hit by the full
Ultra. Otherwise, you get a freebie, as Dan will fall flat on his face and
do absolutely ZERO damage. This tripping animation actually counts as
standing (not crouching or downed as some might think), so you can actually
do any attack you please. Be wary of the Ultra, as it will beat out most
attacks. Interestingly, you can also Focus Dan's Ultra for a free crumple.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Superior speed
2) Superior combo-ability
3) Dan must close in on Fei to do real damage
4) Fei has the better set of mid-long range tools to control spacing (CW, RKK)
5) Dan practically relies on his Ultra to turn the match
=================================
VS Vega (65-35) [VEG]
--------------------
[Please read the "Charge Characters" note in the VS Guile section]
Vega's specials aren't really that combo friendly. Rather, they're meant to be
used as mix-up tools to catch you in the air or from behind. Your best tool for
punishing these specials is RKK, so learn the opportunities to do so:
1) Dive claw
Vega's diving claw has him in an upside-down 'T' shape. This attack follows
a backflip into the wall and can be easily countered upon block, or even
mid-air. On block, watch Vega's positioning, as this move can cross you up.
Once Vega is on his feet, launch RKK for 3 hits to connect. If you choose
to take this move out in the air, wait for Vega to advance with his dive,
then do a retreating j+HK. This will hit him for free damage, and allow you
to avoid the chip.
2) Izuna drop
There are 2 ways that Vega can land this. The first is through a Dive mix-
up. Instead of a claw, Vega can opt to grab you when he is right next to
you, although this is hard to time/position for the Vega player. Likely,
you'll see the Izuna drop coming from a rushing Wall Dive, where Vega jumps
FORWARD, tackling you from mid-close range. If you're hit, the Izuna drop
is guaranteed. On block, however, you can jump in the direction that Vega
is NOT travelling in and launch a j+HK for an air-to-air counter.
3) Drill claw
Vega jumps to the wall and then shoots forward like Superman. On block,
simply RKK him for 3 free hits. There are different versions of this move
which vary in height. Some versions can be swat down with CW; others can be
ducked under. It's best to be safe and just block it standing, however.
4) Scarlett terror
Vega's version of the Flash Kick, this juggles twice, but is otherwise a
bad anti-air as it trades with many attacks. Block this and punish with
anything. Cross-ups work well to avoid this, though you also give Vega a
chance to escape the corner if you try it.
5) Super
Retreating j+HK. As soon as you see the blue sparks you need to react or
you'll be stuck in an Izuna Drop combo.
As you can see, all of Vega's moves are very punishable. What makes Vega some-
what of a challenge is that he has incredible range to keep you from getting
too close. In a jab war, you'll win at close range. Once in mid-close range,
Vega's jabs will catch you in between your slower pokes. This means that once
you're close in, you'll want to stay in, else you give him an opportunity to
start his mix-up routine. Random ShienKs and Lv1 Focus Attacks may disrupt
Vega's jab game if you're willing to play with a little risk. CW may also allow
you to avoid a jab and score a counter.
Start the match at range and work to counter/reverse his specials, as most Vega
players like to rush people with this. Once that has been nullified, Vega will
begin walking towards you using fast pokes. Remember that when Vega walks
forward, he's not charging anything. Expect pokes, throws, and launchers and
counter them accordingly.
At mid-close range, you need to be a bit more defensive, as Vega has a
roundhouse special which allows him to juggle you into an Izuna Drop. This
roundhouse may also lead to a standing grab, so on block, you need to be quick
to reverse it with an FADC ShienK or throw some random jabs. You can also
prepare a CW or backdash to avoid the throw. This roundhouse is very distinct
in its animation as it moves Vega forward a good distance.
Cross-ups work well against Vega as his anti-air isn't too reliable. If he
isn't doing a downward charge you don't need to worry about anti-air attempts
as Vega really lacks in this department.
Vega's df+MK is a slide which will also move him closer to you. This slide is
best punished with ShienK, although you can do a number of things to punish
him as the wind-down is pretty large.
Vega's Ultra is pretty pathetic, so once he has it, you shouldn't need to
change your game. If you don't have the stamina to take the hit, avoid jumping.
You can punish the Ultra on block with anything.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Fei has the tools to counter/punish all of Vega's specials/Super/Ultra.
2) Vega is relatively weak, and can get weaker if he loses parts.
3) Vega typically relies on mix-ups rather than combos.
4) Vega's Ultra is pathetic and difficult to hit with (worse than Fei's).
=================================
VS Sakura (70-30) [SKA]
--------------------
Crouch block Sakura's specials, as none of them hit overhead. Sakura's only
overhead is a normal which will not combo (much like Fei's). Use this idea to
maintain a turtling defense, punishing her specials on block. Note that there
are versions of Sakura's TSK which keep her entirely safe, giving her an edge
in a chip-war. Rather than trying to reverse these attacks, switch up betweem
pokes, throws, overheads, and jump-ins. You can also take a few steps back to
lure Sakura to you instead.
At long range, wait for the Hadouken to CW past it for a free combo. Closer to
mid-range, begin watching for her SRK and TSK which can reach pretty far.
Sakura's EX TSK will open you up for a nice juggle, so be sure to watch her
meter. Sakura also has a deceptively long-range Focus Attack; likely, she'll
use this as a set-up for her EX TSK into jumping Spikes, so you'll see it
often.
Offensively, cross-ups and jump-ins are viable attack options. This is because
Sakura's SRK is a multi-hit, which you can trade with much like Ken's. For this
same reason, however, you might want to hold off on using Focus Attacks as two
of her specials can break right through them: the SRK and TSK. Her Hadouken can
also break through your armor when EX'd or when charged up slightly.
Sakura doesn't have many threatening moves to watch for, but when she gets her
Ultra, do make sure to block low. Like Dan, her game is relatively simple: get
in a couple of combos, take some hits, and then launch the Ultra. Effective
pressure (low pokes, safe RKKs, CWs, cross-ups, etc.) will keep her on the
losing end, however, and will likely force Sakura to panic. At this point, play
defensively to counter her as she tries to make up the difference in damage.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Superior health
2) Speed in attack (pressure play)
2) Fei can counter/block/evade Sakura's specials easily
3) Sakura's game relies on her set-ups with specials (see #2), and her Ultra.
=================================
VS El Fuerte (60-40) [ELF]
--------------------
Fuerte is a pure mix-up character, so to be honest there's not much of a game
to consider. Fuerte players are all very erratic in nature and rely on a mix of
mind games and luck to win. This is what makes Fuerte such a dangerous
character to face. From his run, he has several options:
1) Body press.
The most common attack, this can hit in front or cross you up; as soon as
you're hit, you go down. This sets you up for another Body Press trap.
ShienK usually will not win against this on wake-up; it will only trade at
best. This attack can hit you out of the air as well. RKK this on block as
Fuerte will roll away from ShienK range, forcing a whiff. If you predict
this, you can also Focus it for a crumple, although the timing can be
tricky considering Fuerte is un-hittable for some number of frames after
the attack.
2) Slide.
The slide tackle hits low. If you're not watching for this move, this is a
free hit for Fuerte and AGAIN you'll be set up for a mix-up trap. On block,
c+LP> RKK or ShienK. This can be Focused for a crumple, easily.
3) Overhead grab.
There are two version of this I believe. Both put you on the ground, so
there's no distinction whatsoever. This grab will get you if you decide
that blocking/turtling is a good strategy (it's not, really). On whiff, RKK
for 3 hits. Remember that Fuerte cannot grab you out of the air, but he
can time the grab to get you as you land.
4) Scissor grab.
This grabs you out of the air only and actually works better than Abel's
Falling Sky for catching CW's and jump-ins. If you get too jumpy at close
range you'll be thrown straight down. Fuerte can also do a knee on the
ground to knock you up in the air for this attack. On whiff, ShienK or RKK
depending on the range.
5) Stop and attack.
Notably, the forward body splash (Q-Bomb) is a common stop-and-attack
option. This pushes you back out to LP RKK range, however, if you're hit,
expect a follow-up attack. You can at least reverse this with RKK on block.
Watch out for body splashes that end up short as they usually lead to a
grab. Also watch out for normals, including Fuerte's run-stop-fierce
infinite.
6 options total (#3 is 2 grabs). Don't forget his EX's as well! The list seems
pretty daunting, and it's meant to be. Luckily, Fei has a new HK CW as of the
Championship update which allows him to escape all of El Fuerte's cross-up/mix-
up traps. This makes the fight a little more fair; if you get hit by Fuerte,
you can at least escape further damage by CW'ing out of your wake-up spot. Take
advantage of this whenever you're knocked down.
If there is any reliable strategy against Fuerte, it's to be aggressive, more
than defensive. If you're defensive, you only allow Fuerte the time to set up
his traps and confuse you further. Passive-aggressive play is also difficult to
do, as Fuerte is constantly jumping/running around.
CW sparingly to get in; mix this up with dashes, walking, and jumps, just so
Fuerte doesn't know what's coming. Once you've limited his running space (about
a half-screen between him and the wall), start throwing random RKKs and CWs for
free hits/chip. Since Fuerte needs to run to do most of his attacks, you might
be able to get some counters in this way as well. Do note that his EX Run has
two levels of Hyper Armor though.
Once in close, go to town on Fuerte as he's not too big of a close-range
fighter. Without the space to set up his runs, he relies on your mistakes to
regain momentum and begin the attack again. Keep mixing it up in order to keep
Fuerte in the corner or on the ground. Cross-ups may be a good idea when close,
as Fuerte's air grab will likely whiff (it's mainly used to escape cross-ups).
Expect to see this as a corner escape alongside his wall-jump; turn around and
catch him as he falls. Watch out for Fuerte's throws though as they outrange
Fei's by a lot.
You can actually try to bait some of Fuerte's moves in this match. Jumping at
range will typically bait the Body Press off of a wall-jump; Focus this or
block for RKK. CW spams up close may also bait the Scissor Grab as a counter.
Do a couple from point blank and then switch up to RKK to mess with the Fuerte
player's head.
Fuerte's Super can be combo'd into, but his Ultra is much more predictable.
Block the Super and wait for Fuerte to stop pressing before countering. Against
the Ultra, you might consider using CW to go airborne, or just jumping. As long
as you're not on the ground, Fuerte can't grab you with this. He can, however,
grab you as you land. You can launch any attack if he whiffs this as there is
a lot of wind-down to punish.
Advantage to Fei:
1) Close-range pressure works excellently.
2) HK CW escapes all of Fuerte's cross-up/throw mixup options; it can even be
used standing (as opposed to a wake-up reversal) to screw with Fuerte.
3) Fuerte has no threatening escapes from the corner, or from cross-ups.
4) Fuerte's Ultra is throw based and requires you to be on the ground; this can
be avoided entirely by jumping, CW, or backdash at a moment's notice.
5) Fuerte's main strategy requires running room.
=================================
VS Seth (50-50) [STH]
--------------------
Some moves that are easy to reverse/counter are:
1) Crouching stretchy punch:
Unlike Dhalsim's stretch punch, on block MP/HP RKK will actually catch Seth
fully if you're within range. Consider using EX RKK to be sure and to do
extra damage.
2) Sonic Boom:
EX CW past this for a free CW> c+LP> RKK combo; you can also MK CW over it
for less damage and a 2-frame advantage on hit. If you are within jump-in
range, throw out a j+HK against both the normal and EX Boom. If you're not
feeling up to countering you can also jump to advance, jump straight up, or
(in the case of a close range Sonic Boom) block and LP RKK Reversal for
safe chip damage.
3) Hyakuretsu:
This is the 17-hit kick similar to Akuma's Super/Ultra in appearance. It
won't do much on its own, but it has Armor Break, can be comboed, and is
pretty quick. The EX version is also invincible on start-up. On block,
launch a Super or Ultra. Do note that about 4 of these will dizzy you.
4) Shoryuken:
It looks intimidating, but it really doesn't do any extra damage compared
to the original. Watch out at close range as this move is entirely
invincible. On block, be creative.
At range, treat Seth like Dhalsim and advance with care by taking advantage of
his down frames. Towards mid-long range, prepare your EX CW for a free combo,
and a chance to advance on Seth.
Against a really jumpy Seth, don't fall for his bait and stay calm on the
ground. Wait for him to try to do his air stomps and attempt to catch up to him
with CW reversal. You can also try to ShienK him on block, however, since this
attack moves behind you, you need to do it kind of late to have Fei turn around
and hit Seth. If Seth gets comfortable with these "drive-bys," gamble an air-
to-air to discourage him from trying it again. Remember that Seth has the least
amount of health in the entire game (700 compared to Fei's 1000), so an air-to-
air will take away about 1/7th of his health which is a sizeable chunk.
If you manage to penetrate mid-range, block and wait for the crouch punch,
which is Seth's preferred range attack for pushing purposes. On block, punish
as above. If you fight a Seth that never stretch punches, just MK CW over the
next Sonic Boom for free hits, or EX CW for a full combo. At this range, Seth
may also try a Yoga teleport into SPD. Luckily, Seth's SPD takes a full three
frames to execute, so jab spam may be able to stop it while he's in limbo of
teleporting, or at the very least you have enough time to dash away, prepare a
ShienK, etc. You can also use HK CW to take advantage of its invincibility
frames and airborne status to escape the grab.
At close range, your pokes are all at least one frame faster, so if you start a
block string, finish it! Seth won't be able to get a hit in edgewise, and will
likely be frustrated by your poking. Don't get overzealous with it, however, as
his EX Hyakuretsu is invincible on start, meaning he can shoot it out whenever
there's a gap. Watch your jump-ins at this range as Seth's SRK is also
invincible.
Seth's Ultra is about as strong as Vega's, however, it's relatively easy to hit
with. Seth can get you with the Ultra whenever you're in the air, and at any
range. The only way to avoid this is to focus on ground movement to close in
on Seth. If you have enough stamina you can just bait Seth to use this so that
it will no longer become a factor in play (my preference). On block, this Ultra
is relatively safe unless he gets you at point-blank range; at this point you
can RKK him for 3 hits. You can also gamble an Ultra to avoid the hit entirely
and counter hit him.
Seth's Super is a rarity to see, however, it seems to do a bit more damage than
the Ultra. If used out of the blue, block and launch an Ultra to reverse it. In
the air, however, this is a guaranteed hit for Seth; just hope that you don't
get hit by all of it.
=================================
VS Rufus (50-50) [RUF]
--------------------
At long range this is obviously a stalemate, although Fei at least has CW to
poke Rufus. Don't let the fight get this far as Rufus can safely build meter
here by purposely whiffing specials.
Towards mid range Rufus has a crouching HP that does pretty good damage but is
easy to punish. Also watch for MP/HP Galactic Tornado which can plow forward
for the chip or Armor Break. Galactic Tornado is safe on block, so opt to dodge
it whenever possible or counter with a jump-in. When the fight gets down to the
wire and you need to be safe, consider staying at this range where it's
relatively easy to see what's coming at you. At this range, RKK and MK CW will
be your weapons of choice.
Close range is where this fight is at. Here, expect to see Rufus' Dive Kick as
a combo/mix-up opener. Rufus' main combo out of a Dive Kick is his HP> Galactic
Tornado which takes a large chunk of health away. This, however, is usually
mixed up with throws and crouching jabs. On block you might consider throwing
out a couple of ShienKs to shy Rufus away from being too aggressive with it. If
Rufus does the Dive Kick late in the jump, you can also just ShienK him for the
counter.
Make note that the Dive Kick can cross you up. Watch for when Rufus launches
this attack. If it's early in the jump or after the peak, it's likely not a
cross-up. Right before the peak, however, there's a chance that Rufus may be
headed to your backside. This move will only strike you from the front unlike a
true cross-up. Block the hit in front, but watch where Rufus lands and prepare
to block/counter an attack from that direction. Mind spacing just as you would
with the Shotos so that you'll only have to deal with Rufus from the front.
Crouch blocking may be a good way to bait the normal Messiah Kick. The Messiah
starts with an empty and highly telegraphic jump arc, so use that as your
visual cue to do a standing block. Buffer the ShienK motion while in block stun
and unleash in between his attacks. As long as you prepare the ShienK as a
reversal to the first kick, you'll get him before the second. If he stops, you
should still be able to hit him.
With Rufus on the ground try a cross-up. Rufus doesn't have any options that
allow him to hit behind, so you won't have to worry about getting hit with
specials. At best, he'll escape the cross-up with a Snake Strike or Messiah
Kick. Try a j+LK cross-up for fast recovery so that you can try hitting him out
of his escape when you land.
This counter-puncher strategy should work until Rufus has about half-health.
Once he builds up a couple bars of meter and an Ultra, you need to be more
careful about whiffing as Rufus will do whatever it takes to get you in his
Ultra. This can be done from a simple target combo on the ground, Galactic
Tornado (in the corner), Messiah Kick> FADC> Ultra, or from a double jump kick
set-up. If you get hit with any of those the dynamic will shift again, giving
Rufus the momentum. After expending his meter though you should be able to work
your counter-puncher game again (and of course you'll have your Ultra).
Aside from the Ultra, Rufus will also try to get you with EX Messiah, which is
invincible on start-up and fast to launch. At close range, you'll want to bait
this with crouch blocking, but if you can't, consider using your CWs to attack
Rufus as they put you in the air. If you're hit by the EX Messiah in the air,
you may be able to get away with only one hit as opposed to the full combo.
In this fight, opt to use Focus at mid-range to catch Rufus' Messiah, c+HP, and
sweeps. The dive kick can be punished only if Rufus does it at the peak of his
jump, otherwise he can easily transition to a block/jabs/throw. Rufus also has
a double jump kick which can catch you twice to break the armor if used at the
right time.
=================================
VS C.Viper (50-50) [CVP]
--------------------
Viper is a purely aggressive character that makes use of quick cancels and fake
outs to play really cool mind games. All of her specials also benefit from
being relatively safe on block. Unfortunately for her, however, she her special
moves are all slow to launch and she suffers from a problem with stamina. The
difference between Viper and Akuma's style, however, is in the speed of Viper's
attacks and the amount of defending that you'll have to do before you get an
opportunity to attack again.
Viper has a number of bread-and-butter combos for quick/safe damage. Here are
some to watch for:
1) c+MK> Sand Knuckle
Face-to-face, Viper does a good job with her footsies game, as it leads to
a pretty powerful attack in her Sand Knuckle (electric punch). Within range
you can just block low, however, this attack is SAFE on block so you don't
have any options to punish. Thankfully, this attack is pretty slow to
launch, so you can ShienK reversal the c+MK before the Sand Knuckle.
2) Seismo Hammer> Super Jump Cancel> Burning Kick
There's no real way to punish this, as Viper can SJC the Hammer whether the
hit is confirmed or not. If she follows through with the Burning Kick,
however, you have an opportunity to hit her out of the air before it's
executed. Try a CW to catch her during Hammer wind-up if you see it.
3) c+LP> Super Jump Cancel> Burning Kick (Cross-up)
This one's tricky, but you'll see higher level players do it often. You
have to respond to the audio cue for the Super Jump pretty quickly to be
able to block the cross-up successfully. It's not that fast, but it's a
good mix-up. Punish with a throw on block, or ShienK before the kick makes
contact for the counter.
There are plenty of other ways to mix up her attacks, but these are the ones
that I see the most.
Crouch blocking against Viper works very well, as her only overhead will not
combo further. Viper's attacks all take awhile to execute, but they can all be
cancelled out of/into, so it can be hard to punish her during "downtime." For
this reason, let Viper come to you and use fast pokes to take her health down.
Since Viper has less than average stamina, you should be able to whittle her
down pretty quickly.
Cross-ups will work pretty well against Viper, but make sure to time it right
as her Sand Knuckle can hit you twice if caught in the air. It's otherwise
comparable to an SRK when combo'd (though you'll take more stun from 2 hits),
so it shouldn't be too bad to get hit. In an air-to-air war, you might luck out
if Viper tries to do a Burning Kick, as that move has some wind-up to it and
will lose to a normal. ShienK when Viper jumps in, as your execution is faster
than the Burning Kick. If you trade with the Burning Kick, you'll still come
out on top as well.
Never stay at long range against Viper. Her Seismo Hammer can be spammed by
doing Super Jump Cancels, allowing her to build meter/chip you down safely.
You can't expect to CW her during downtime like other projectile users, so
instead of waiting for "the moment," use CW to close in fast. Stay up close
with Viper and just try to outpace her pokes instead. MK CW for the mix-up into
throws and to put Viper on the defensive. Once she starts to turtle, mix-up
into a cross-up to do some damage. Repeat this as necessary.
=================================
*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************
I) Punishment Guide [PSGX]
Courtesy of VR-Raiden from the SRK boards, here's a quick punishment guide for
reversals. Listed are the most damaging ways to punish the opponent after a
blocked attack (Edits to come soon):
Please keep these combos in mind:
c+MK
> Super
c+HP
> Super
> HP RKK
> Heavy/EX ShienK
> EX CW (on Seth/Abel)
MP (Close)
> EX CW (on Cammy, Chun-li, C. Viper, Rose, Sagat, Vega*, Zangief*)
> EX ShienK
*On Vega and Zangief, for unknown reasons, they have 2 different hit-stun
animations from MP (Close). If they do an animation where they lean over a lot,
CW will miss. If they do the other animation, it will hit. Leaning over
animation seems less common for Zangief than Vega.
HK CW
> HP (Close)
=================================
Abel
Wheel Kick
Light/Medium
- LP RKK
- c+MK
Heavy
- HP RKK
- c+MK
- Super
- Ultra
EX
- c+MK
Change of Direction*
Second Mid
- MK ShienK
Finish Mid
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Finish Low
- c+MK
- Super
- Ultra
*Punish Second Mid with MK ShienK because it's free if he stops OR tries for
the 3rd hit. Can also MK ShienK after Second Low to go through 3rd hit, but it
will miss if Abel doesn't continue for 3rd hit.
Heartless (Super)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Soulless (Ultra)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
=================================
Akuma
c+HK
- LP RKK
- c+MK
Shoryuken
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Tatsumaki (spin kicks)*
Light/Medium
- HP (Close)
EX
- HP RKK
Demon Flip
Low
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Super**
- HK CW
- ShienK
- Super
- Ultra
Ultra
- same as Super
*Or crouch, wait until he lands, and HP RKK.
**Hit him on his way towards you. Or you can jump and get a combo from an air
move if you're spaced properly.
=================================
Balrog
Dash Straight
Heavy
- LP RKK (must block standing)
- c+MK (must block standing)
Dash Low Straight
Light
- LP RKK
Medium/Heavy
- HP RKK
- Super
Dash Swing Blow (the overhead one)
Lights/EX
- MK ShienK
Medium/Heavy
- LP RKK
- c+MK
Dash Low Smash
Light
- MK ShienK
Medium/Heavy
- LP RKK
- c+MK
Turn Punch
- MK ShienK
Buffalo Head
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Crazy Buffalo (Super)
- HP RKK
- c+MK
- Super
- Ultra
Violent Buffalo (Ultra)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
=================================
Bison
c+HK
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Psycho Crusher
Light
- HP (Close)
Medium/Heavy/EX
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Double Knee Press (flip kick)
Heavy/EX
- LP RKK
- c+MK
Knee Press Nightmare* (Super)
- HP RKK
*He will pass through you on block, you have to hit him on the other side
after he slides through you.
Nightmare Booster (Ultra)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
=================================
Blanka
c+HK
- LP RKK
- c+MK
c+HP
- HP RKK
- c+MK
- Super
- Ultra
df. hp (downforward hp, slide)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Blanka Balls
- dash > LP RKK (must standing block)
- LP RKK > heavy 2nd hit Rekka (must standing block, must reversal LP RKK, 2nd
HP RKK will reach)
Backstep Roll (blackflip, bounces off you)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Electric Thunder*
- MK ShienK
- c+MK
- c+HK
- Super
- Ultra
*If they stop immediately, you can't punish it. If they keep going after you
block it, or are just doing it far away, you can do those things (hitting at
max range) to hit him out of it.
Ground Shave Roll (Super)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Lightning Cannonball (Ultra)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
=================================
C. Viper
=================================
Cammy
c+HK
- LP RKK
- c+MK
Spiral arrow
Light
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra (Cammy lands close)
- LP RKK (Cammy lands far)
- c+MK (Cammy lands far)
Medium/Heavy/EX
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra (Cammy lands close)
Cannon Spike*
- EX CW
- HP RKK
- c+MK
- Super
- Ultra
*Blocked close enough, you can also dash > HP (Close).
Spin Drive Smasher (Super)
- HK CW
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Gyro Drive Smasher (Ultra)
- HK CW
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
=================================
Chun-li
Tenkukyaku* (2nd upper-kick from back mk)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
- ShienK
Tenshyokyaku (3rd hit from back mk, goes up with 3 kicks)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
- EX CW
*Advisable to punish 2nd hit with ShienK, because it will hit whether she
stops OR continues.
Spinning Bird Kick*
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra (Chun-li lands close)
- c+MK (Chun-li lands far)
- HP RKK (Chun-li lands far)
*This is a weird move to punish, it's very distant dependent, and sometimes she
goes to your other side. Best method of punishment is block low > wait until
she lands > punish accordingly.
Senretsukyaku (Super)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Hosenka (Ultra)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
*Little flip kick at the end will not hit you and it does not make Chun-li
airborne.
=================================
Dan
=================================
Dhalsim
=================================
E. Honda
Sumo Headbutt
Medium/Heavy
- HP RKK
- Super
EX
- EX Rekka
Sumo Splash*
- ShienK (after first hit blocked)
*He is safe if you block the landing part. To punish, you either have to ShienK
through when it comes or after you block the first hit up close.
Super
- c+MK
Ultra
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
=================================
El Fuerte
F. Dash MP: HP RKK, super (Ultra seems to whiff regularly on second hit)
F. Dash HK: c. LP xx HP RKK, or HK ShienK
Super: HP xx HP RKK, super, ultra
=================================
Fei Long
c+HK
- LP RKK
- c+MK
forward mk (overhead)
- c+LP
- c+MP
Rekkas*
Light, 2nd
- c+LP
- c+MK
Medium, 1st
- c+LP
- c+MK
2nd
- LP RKK
- c+MK
Heavy/EX, 1st
- LP RKK
- c+MK
2nd
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
ShienK
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
- HK CW
CW
Light
- c+LP/lk
Super
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Ultra
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
** If the Fei Long is stupid enough to do the 3rd Rekka:
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
=================================
Gen
=================================
Gouken
=================================
Guile
c+HK
- block first hit, ShienK (close to far range)
- block first hit, overhead (MAX range)
- block first hit, HP (Close) (close range)
forward mp(overhead punch)
- c+lk
Flash Kick
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Super
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Ultra
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Ken
back mk
- MK ShienK
Hurricane Kick (except EX)
- HP (Close)
Hadoken (except EX)
- LP RKK
- c+MK
- Super
Shoryuken
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Shoryureppa (Super)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Shinryuken (Ultra)
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
=================================
Rose
Soul Spark (LP only, at point blank): LP RKK
Soul Spiral (Close range only): HP xx HP RKK, LP RKK
Ultra: HP RKK, Super, Ultra. It's safe against Fei, depending on how far it
hits.
=================================
Rufus
=================================
Ryu
c+HK
- HP RKK
- c+MK
- Super
- Ultra
Hadoken (except EX)
- c+MK
Shoryuken
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Metsu Hadoken (Ultra)
- j+HK> Ultra
=================================
Sagat
c+HK
- MK ShienK
Tiger Knee
Light
- LP RKK
- c+MK
Medium
- HP (Close)
- super
Heavy
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Tiger Uppercut
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Tiger Genocide
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
Tiger Desctruction
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
=================================
Sakura
Shouoken: HP> HP RKK/Super/Ultra
Super: LP RKK
Ultra: HP RKK, super, ultra
=================================
Seth
Lightning kick: HP RKK, super, ultra
Shoryuken: Same as shotos
Super: HP RKK, super, ultra
=================================
Vega
=================================
Zangief
c+HK
- c+LP/LK
- c+MK
Long Kick (looks like sweep but goes farther)
- HP RKK
- c+MK
- Super
- Ultra
Banishing Flat (green hand)
Light/Medium
- HP (Close)
Heavy/EX
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra (no Ultra on EX)
Double Lariat
>> Wait until he spins 3 times (listening helps)
- HP RKK
- c+MK
- Super
- Ultra
Quick Double Lariat
- HP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- MP (Close), may need to dash/walk forward
- Super
- Ultra
*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************
J) Special Thanks [SPTX]
Thanks to:
Capcom for releasing this game already and making it freaking awesome.
Gamefaqs for copyright protection and the video game websites which have
offered to host this FAQ for free. Also, thanks to all those reading this FAQ!
The SRK.com community for input on my favorite Street Fighter, and also for the
tips/advice that you've provided through discussion.
VR-Raiden for letting me grab his Punishment Guide from SRK.com. Really helpful
stuff, and it saved me a lot of time trying to test this stuff out myself.
Thanks!
My readers for their tips and comments on the FAQ. You guys really helped make
this something worthwhile!
Myself for being so dilligent with Fei-Long, despite the sometimes frustrating
nature of online play.
My online opponents. Really, I learned a lot from you--what to do, what not to
do, etc. My game has really grown since I first began playing thanks to you.
Again, thanks for reading!
*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************
K) Contact [CONX]
XBL: Kobrakoun
E-mail: nsjkd@hotmail.com
If you guys have any questions, concerns, or want to help add to my FAQ, please
write to my e-mail address above. Or, if you just want to duke it out, just
send me an invite on Xbox Live.